Monoallelic de novo AJAP1 loss-of- function variants disrupt trans-synaptic control of neurotransmitter release

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  • Simon Früh
  • Sami Boudkkazi
  • Peter Koppensteiner
  • Li Yuan Chen
  • Diego Fernandez-Fernandez
  • Pascal D. Rem
  • Daniel Ulrich
  • Jochen Schwenk
  • Elodie Le Monnier
  • Thorsten Fritzius
  • Sabrina M. Innocenti
  • Valérie Besseyrias
  • Luca Trovò
  • Michal Stawarski
  • Emanuela Argilli
  • Elliott H. Sherr
  • Bregje van Bon
  • Erik Jan Kamsteeg
  • Maria Iascone
  • Alba Pilotta
  • Maria R. Cutrì
  • Mahshid S. Azamian
  • Andrés Hernández-García
  • Seema R. Lalani
  • Jill A. Rosenfeld
  • Xiaonan Zhao
  • Tiphanie P. Vogel
  • Herda Ona
  • Daryl A. Scott
  • Peter Scheiffele
  • Mehdi Tafti
  • Martin Gassmann
  • Bernd Fakler
  • Ryuichi Shigemoto
  • Bernhard Bettler

Adherens junction-associated protein 1 (AJAP1) has been implicated in brain diseases; however, a pathogenic mechanism has not been identified. AJAP1 is widely expressed in neurons and binds to γ-aminobutyric acid type B receptors (GBRs), which inhibit neurotransmitter release at most synapses in the brain. Here, we show that AJAP1 is selectively expressed in dendrites and trans-synaptically recruits GBRs to presynaptic sites of neurons expressing AJAP1. We have identified several monoallelic AJAP1 variants in individuals with epilepsy and/or neurodevelopmental disorders. Specifically, we show that the variant p.(W183C) lacks binding to GBRs, resulting in the inability to recruit them. Ultrastructural analysis revealed significantly decreased presynaptic GBR levels in Ajap1-/- and Ajap1W183C/+ mice. Consequently, these mice exhibited reduced GBR-mediated presynaptic inhibition at excitatory and inhibitory synapses, along with impaired synaptic plasticity. Our study reveals that AJAP1 enables the postsynaptic neuron to regulate the level of presynaptic GBR-mediated inhibition, supporting the clinical relevance of loss-of- function AJAP1 variants.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberadk5462
JournalScience Advances
Volume10
Issue number28
Number of pages19
ISSN2375-2548
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

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