Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent binding of the neuronal Ca2+ sensor protein GCAP2 to photoreceptor synaptic ribbons

J Neurosci. 2010 May 12;30(19):6559-76. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3701-09.2010.

Abstract

Guanylate cyclase activating protein 2 (GCAP2) is a recoverin-like Ca2+-sensor protein known to modulate guanylate cyclase activity in photoreceptor outer segments. GCAP2 is also present in photoreceptor ribbon synapses where its function is unknown. Synaptic ribbons are active zone-associated presynaptic structures in the tonically active photoreceptor ribbon synapses and contain RIBEYE as a unique and major protein component. In the present study, we demonstrate by various independent approaches that GCAP2 specifically interacts with RIBEYE in photoreceptor synapses. We show that the flexible hinge 2 linker region of RIBEYE(B) domain that connects the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-binding subdomain with the substrate-binding subdomain (SBD) binds to the C terminus of GCAP2. We demonstrate that the RIBEYE-GCAP2 interaction is induced by the binding of NADH to RIBEYE. RIBEYE-GCAP2 interaction is modulated by the SBD. GCAP2 is strongly expressed in synaptic terminals of light-adapted photoreceptors where GCAP2 is found close to synaptic ribbons as judged by confocal microscopy and proximity ligation assays. Virus-mediated overexpression of GCAP2 in photoreceptor synaptic terminals leads to a reduction in the number of synaptic ribbons. Therefore, GCAP2 is a prime candidate for mediating Ca2+-dependent dynamic changes of synaptic ribbons in photoreceptor synapses.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Co-Repressor Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Guanylate Cyclase-Activating Proteins / genetics
  • Guanylate Cyclase-Activating Proteins / metabolism*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Mice
  • NAD / metabolism*
  • Phosphoproteins / chemistry
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / metabolism*
  • Presynaptic Terminals / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Retina / metabolism
  • Synapses / metabolism*
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Co-Repressor Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Guanylate Cyclase-Activating Proteins
  • Guca1b protein, mouse
  • Phosphoproteins
  • NAD
  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases
  • Ctbp2 protein, mouse