Stimulation of synaptic vesicle exocytosis by the mental disease gene DISC1 is mediated by N-type voltage-gated calcium channels

Willcyn Tang, Jervis Vermal Thevathasan, Qingshu Lin, Kim Buay Lim, Keisuke Kuroda, Kozo Kaibuchi, Marcel Bilger, Tuck Wah Soong, Marc Fivaz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Lesions and mutations of the DISC1 (Disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1) gene have been linked to major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism, but the influence of DISC1 on synaptic transmission remains poorly understood. Using two independent genetic approaches-RNAi and a DISC1 KO mouse-we examined the impact of DISC1 on the synaptic vesicle (SV) cycle by population imaging of the synaptic tracer vGpH in hippocampal neurons. DISC1 loss-of-function resulted in a marked decrease in SV exocytic rates during neuronal stimulation and was associated with reduced Ca2+ transients at nerve terminals. Impaired SV release was efficiently rescued by elevation of extracellular Ca2+, hinting at a link between DISC1 and voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Accordingly, blockade of N-type Cav2.2 channels mimics and occludes the effect of DISC1 inactivation on SV exocytosis, and overexpression of DISC1 in a heterologous system increases Cav2.2 currents. Collectively, these results show that DISC1-dependent enhancement of SV exocytosis is mediated by Cav2.2 and point to aberrant glutamate release as a probable endophenotype of major psychiatric disorders.

Original languageEnglish
Article number15
JournalFrontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience
Volume8
Issue numberJUN
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Stimulation of synaptic vesicle exocytosis by the mental disease gene DISC1 is mediated by N-type voltage-gated calcium channels'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this