Munc13-3 Is Required for the Developmental Localization of Ca Channels to Active Zones and the Nanopositioning of Ca2.1 Near Release Sensors.

Spatial relationships between Ca channels and release sensors at active zones (AZs) are a major determinant of synaptic fidelity. They are regulated developmentally, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unclear. Here, we show that Munc13-3 regulates the density of Ca2.1 and Ca2.2 channels, alters the localization of Ca2.1, and is required for the development of tight, nanodomain coupling at parallel-fiber AZs. We combined EGTA application and Ca-channel pharmacology in electrophysiological and two-photon Ca imaging experiments with quantitative freeze-fracture immunoelectron microscopy and mathematical modeling. We found that a normally occurring developmental shift from release being dominated by Ca influx through Ca2.1 and Ca2.2 channels with domain overlap and loose coupling (microdomains) to a nanodomain Ca2.1 to sensor coupling is impaired in Munc13-3-deficient synapses. Thus, at AZs lacking Munc13-3, release remained triggered by Ca2.1 and Ca2.2 microdomains, suggesting a critical role of Munc13-3 in the formation of release sites with calcium channel nanodomains.