Crystal structures of beta-neurexin 1 and beta-neurexin 2 ectodomains and dynamics of splice insertion sequence 4

Structure. 2008 Mar;16(3):410-21. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2007.12.024.

Abstract

Presynaptic neurexins (NRXs) bind to postsynaptic neuroligins (NLs) to form Ca(2+)-dependent complexes that bridge neural synapses. beta-NRXs bind NLs through their LNS domains, which contain a single site of alternative splicing (splice site 4) giving rise to two isoforms: +4 and Delta. We present crystal structures of the Delta isoforms of the LNS domains from beta-NRX1 and beta-NRX2, crystallized in the presence of Ca(2+) ions. The Ca(2+)-binding site is disordered in the beta-NRX2 structure, but the 1.7 A beta-NRX1 structure reveals a single Ca(2+) ion, approximately 12 A from the splice insertion site, with one coordinating ligand donated by a glutamic acid from an adjacent beta-NRX1 molecule. NMR studies of beta-NRX1+4 show that the insertion sequence is unstructured, and remains at least partially disordered in complex with NL. These results raise the possibility that beta-NRX insertion sequence 4 may function in roles independent of neuroligin binding.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Isoforms / chemistry
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA Splice Sites*
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • RNA Splice Sites
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • neurexin II
  • neuroligin 1
  • neuroligin 2
  • neurexin Ibeta
  • Calcium

Associated data

  • PDB/3BOD
  • PDB/3BOP