Regulated vesicular trafficking of specific PCDH15 and VLGR1 variants in auditory hair cells

J Neurosci. 2012 Oct 3;32(40):13841-59. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1242-12.2012.

Abstract

Usher syndrome is a genetically heterogeneous disorder characterized by hearing and balance dysfunction and progressive retinitis pigmentosa. Mouse models carrying mutations for the nine Usher-associated genes have splayed stereocilia, and some show delayed maturation of ribbon synapses suggesting these proteins may play different roles in terminal differentiation of auditory hair cells. The presence of the Usher proteins at the basal and apical aspects of the neurosensory epithelia suggests the existence of regulated trafficking through specific transport proteins and routes. Immature mouse cochleae and UB/OC-1 cells were used in this work to address whether specific variants of PCDH15 and VLGR1 are being selectively transported to opposite poles of the hair cells. Confocal colocalization studies between apical and basal vesicular markers and the different PCDH15 and VLGR1 variants along with sucrose density gradients and the use of vesicle trafficking inhibitors show the existence of Usher protein complexes in at least two vesicular subpools. The apically trafficked pool colocalized with the early endosomal vesicle marker, rab5, while the basally trafficked pool associated with membrane microdomains and SNAP25. Moreover, coimmunoprecipitation experiments between SNAP25 and VLGR1 show a physical interaction of these two proteins in organ of Corti and brain. Collectively, these findings establish the existence of a differential vesicular trafficking mechanism for specific Usher protein variants in mouse cochlear hair cells, with the apical variants playing a potential role in endosomal recycling and stereocilia development/maintenance, and the basolateral variants involved in vesicle docking and/or fusion through SNAP25-mediated interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • ADP-Ribosylation Factor 1 / analysis
  • Animals
  • Brain Chemistry
  • Cadherin Related Proteins
  • Cadherins / biosynthesis
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Cell Compartmentation
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Polarity / physiology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Hair Cells, Auditory / metabolism
  • Hair Cells, Auditory / ultrastructure*
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Neurologic Mutants
  • Mutation
  • Organ of Corti / chemistry
  • Organ of Corti / ultrastructure
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Protein Precursors / biosynthesis
  • Protein Precursors / genetics
  • Protein Precursors / metabolism*
  • Protein Transport / drug effects
  • RNA Interference
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / chemistry
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25 / analysis
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25 / chemistry
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25 / metabolism
  • Transport Vesicles / chemistry
  • Transport Vesicles / physiology*
  • Usher Syndromes / metabolism
  • rab5 GTP-Binding Proteins / analysis

Substances

  • CDHR15 protein, mouse
  • Cadherin Related Proteins
  • Cadherins
  • Mass1 protein, mouse
  • Protein Precursors
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Snap25 protein, mouse
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factor 1
  • rab5 GTP-Binding Proteins