Presynaptic neurons self-tune by inversely coupling neurotransmitter release with the abundance of CaV2 voltage-gated Ca 2+ channels

Abstract

The abundance of CaV2 voltage-gated calcium channels is linked to presynaptic homeostatic plasticity (PHP), a process that recalibrates synaptic strength to maintain the stability of neural circuits. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing PHP and CaV2 channels are not completely understood. Here, we uncover a previously not described form of PHP in Caenorhabditis elegans , revealing an inverse regulatory relationship between the efficiency of neurotransmitter release and the abundance of UNC-2/CaV2 channels. Gain-of-function unc-2SL(S240L) mutants, which carry a mutation analogous to the one causing familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 in humans, showed markedly reduced channel abundance despite increased channel functionality. Reducing synaptic release in these unc-2SL(S240L) mutants restored channel levels to those observed in wild-type animals. Conversely, loss-of-function unc-2DA(D726A) mutants, which harbor the D726A mutation in the channel pore, exhibited a marked increase in channel abundance. Enhancing synaptic release in unc-2DA mutants reversed this increase in channel levels. Importantly, this homeostatic regulation of UNC-2 channel levels is accompanied by the structural remodeling of the active zone (AZ); specifically, unc-2DA mutants, which exhibit increased channel abundance, showed parallel increases in select AZ proteins. Finally, our forward genetic screen revealed that WWP-1, a HECT family E3 ubiquitin ligase, is a key homeostatic mediator that removes UNC-2 from synapses. These findings highlight a self-tuning PHP regulating UNC-2/CaV2 channel abundance along with AZ reorganization, ensuring synaptic strength and stability.