Capabilities of neurexins in the chick ciliary ganglion

Abstract

Transcellular interactions between neuroligins (NL) and β‐neurexin have been widely documented to promote maturation and function of both glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses. Recently it has been shown that neuroligin‐1 plays a similar role at nicotinic synapses on chick ciliary ganglion neurons in culture, acting from the postsynaptic side to enhance transmitter release from adjacent cholinergic terminals and boost nicotinic input to the cells. We show here that the ciliary ganglion expresses three forms of neuroligin as well as two β‐neurexins and an α‐neurexin. Overexpression of the β‐neurexins, but not the α‐neurexin, can induce clustering of endogenous PSD‐95 in adjacent neurons, presumably engaging neuroligin in the postsynaptic cell. The trans effects of β‐neurexins are selective; though both α3‐ and α7‐containing nicotinic receptors are available on opposing cells, β‐neurexins induce coclustering of α3‐ but not α7‐containing nicotinic receptors. Overexpression of other putative synaptogenic molecules, including SynCAM and L1, are ineffective at trans‐clustering of PSD‐95 on adjacent neurons. The β‐neurexins also exert a cis effect, coclustering presynaptic markers along with β‐neurexin in neurites juxtaposed to postsynaptic proteins, consistent with organizing presynaptic components as well. Striated muscle, the synaptic target of ciliary neurons in vivo, also expresses neuroligin. The results demonstrate that NL and neurexins are present at multiple sites in nicotinic cholinergic pathways and suggest the possibility of both cis‐ and trans‐interactions to influence nicotinic signaling. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2008