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The extracellular region of Lrp4 is sufficient to mediate neuromuscular synapse formation.

ABSTRACT: Neuromuscular synapse formation requires an exchange of signals between motor neurons and muscle. Agrin, supplied by motor neurons, binds to Lrp4 in muscle, stimulating phosphorylation of MuSK and recruitment of a signaling complex essential for synapse-specific transcription and anchoring of key proteins in the postsynaptic membrane. Lrp4, like the LDLR and other Lrp-family members, contains an intracellular region with motifs that can regulate receptor trafficking, as well as assembly of an intracellular signaling complex. Here, we show that the intracellular region of Lrp4 is dispensable for Agrin to stimulate MuSK phosphorylation and clustering of acetylcholine receptors in cultured myotubes. Moreover, muscle-selective expression of a Lrp4-CD4 chimera, composed of the extracellular and transmembrane regions of Lrp4 and the intracellular region of CD4, rescues neuromuscular synapse formation and the neonatal lethality of lrp4 mutant mice, demonstrating that Lrp4, lacking the Lrp4 intracellular region, is sufficient for presynaptic and postsynaptic differentiation.

SUBMITTER: Gomez AM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3213289 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The extracellular region of Lrp4 is sufficient to mediate neuromuscular synapse formation.

Gomez Andrea M AM Burden Steven J SJ

Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists 20111028 12

Neuromuscular synapse formation requires an exchange of signals between motor neurons and muscle. Agrin, supplied by motor neurons, binds to Lrp4 in muscle, stimulating phosphorylation of MuSK and recruitment of a signaling complex essential for synapse-specific transcription and anchoring of key proteins in the postsynaptic membrane. Lrp4, like the LDLR and other Lrp-family members, contains an intracellular region with motifs that can regulate receptor trafficking, as well as assembly of an in ...[more]

PMID: 22038977

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Project description:BackgroundThe neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a peripheral synapse critical to muscle contraction. Like acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), many essential proteins of NMJ are extremely concentrated at the postjunctional membrane. However, the mechanisms of synapse-specific concentration are not well understood; furthermore, it is unclear whether signaling molecules critical to NMJ formation and maintenance are also locally transcribed.ResultsWe studied the β-gal activity encoded by a lacZ cassette driven by the promoter of the Lrp4 gene. As reported for Lrp4 mRNA, β-gal was in the central region in embryonic muscles and at the NMJ after its formation. However, β-gal was no longer in the central areas of muscle fibers in Lrp4 or MuSK mutant mice, indicating a requirement of Lrp4/MuSK signaling. This phenotype could be rescued by transgenic expression of LRP4 with a transmembrane domain but not soluble ECD in Lrp4 mutant mice. β-gal and AChR clusters were distributed in a broader region in lacZ/ECD than that of heterozygous lacZ/+ mice, indicating an important role of the transmembrane domain in Lrp4 signaling. Synaptic β-gal activity became diffused after denervation or treatment with µ-conotoxin, despite its mRNA was increased, indicating synaptic Lrp4 mRNA enrichment requires muscle activity. β-gal was also diffused in aged mice but became re-concentrated after muscle stimulation. Finally, Lrp4 mRNA was increased in C2C12 myotubes by Wnt ligands in a manner that could be inhibited by RKI-1447, an inhibitor of ROCK in Wnt non-canonical signaling. Injecting RKI-1447 into muscles of adult mice diminished Lrp4 synaptic expression.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that synapse-specific enrichment of Lrp4 mRNA requires a coordinated interaction between Lrp4/MuSK signaling, muscle activity, and Wnt non-canonical signaling. Thus, the study provides a new mechanism for Lrp4 mRNA enrichment. It also provides a potential target for the treatment of NMJ aging and other NMJ-related diseases.

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The extracellular region of Lrp4 is sufficient to mediate neuromuscular synapse formation.

Publications

The extracellular region of Lrp4 is sufficient to mediate neuromuscular synapse formation.

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