Miller Adam C, Whitebirch Alex C, Shah Arish N, Marsden Kurt C, Granato Michael, O'Brien John, Moens Cecilia B
Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States.
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, United States.
Elife. 2017 May 22;6:e25364. doi: 10.7554/eLife.25364.
Neural network function is based upon the patterns and types of connections made between neurons. Neuronal synapses are adhesions specialized for communication and they come in two types, chemical and electrical. Communication at chemical synapses occurs via neurotransmitter release whereas electrical synapses utilize gap junctions for direct ionic and metabolic coupling. Electrical synapses are often viewed as symmetrical structures, with the same components making both sides of the gap junction. By contrast, we show that a broad set of electrical synapses in zebrafish, , require two gap-junction-forming Connexins for formation and function. We find that one Connexin functions presynaptically while the other functions postsynaptically in forming the channels. We also show that these synapses are required for the speed and coordination of escape responses. Our data identify a genetic basis for molecular asymmetry at vertebrate electrical synapses and show they are required for appropriate behavioral performance.
神经网络功能基于神经元之间形成的连接模式和类型。神经元突触是专门用于通讯的黏附结构，它们有两种类型，即化学突触和电突触。化学突触的通讯通过神经递质释放来实现，而电突触则利用缝隙连接进行直接的离子和代谢偶联。电突触通常被视为对称结构，缝隙连接两侧具有相同的组件。相比之下，我们发现斑马鱼中广泛存在的一组电突触在形成和功能上需要两种形成缝隙连接的连接蛋白。我们发现一种连接蛋白在突触前起作用，而另一种在形成通道时在突触后起作用。我们还表明，这些突触对于逃避反应的速度和协调性是必需的。我们的数据确定了脊椎动物电突触分子不对称性的遗传基础，并表明它们对于适当的行为表现是必需的。
