TRPM7 facilitates cholinergic vesicle fusion with the plasma membrane

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Jun 17;105(24):8304-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0800881105. Epub 2008 Jun 6.

Abstract

TRPM7, of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family, is both an ion channel and a kinase. Previously, we showed that TRPM7 is located in the membranes of acetylcholine (ACh)-secreting synaptic vesicles of sympathetic neurons, forms a molecular complex with proteins of the vesicular fusion machinery, and is critical for stimulated neurotransmitter release. Here, we targeted pHluorin to small synaptic-like vesicles (SSLV) in PC12 cells and demonstrate that it can serve as a single-vesicle plasma membrane fusion reporter. In PC12 cells, as in sympathetic neurons, TRPM7 is located in ACh-secreting SSLVs. TRPM7 knockdown by siRNA, or abolishing channel activity by expression of a dominant negative TRPM7 pore mutant, decreased the frequency of spontaneous and voltage-stimulated SSLV fusion events without affecting large dense core vesicle secretion. We conclude that the conductance of TRPM7 across the vesicle membrane is important in SSLV fusion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Cell Membrane / enzymology
  • Cell Membrane / physiology*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Fusion*
  • PC12 Cells
  • Phosphotransferases / genetics
  • Phosphotransferases / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Rats
  • Synaptic Vesicles / enzymology
  • Synaptic Vesicles / physiology*
  • TRPM Cation Channels / genetics
  • TRPM Cation Channels / metabolism*
  • Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • PHluorin
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • TRPM Cation Channels
  • Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Phosphotransferases
  • Trpm7 protein, rat
  • Acetylcholine