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. 2017 Aug 17;6:e27443. doi: 10.7554/eLife.27443

Assembly rules for GABAA receptor complexes in the brain

James S Martenson 1,2, Tokiwa Yamasaki 1,2, Nashid H Chaudhury 1,2, David Albrecht 1,2, Susumu Tomita 1,2,✉
Editor: Mary B Kennedy3
PMCID: PMC5577914  PMID: 28816653

Abstract

GABAA receptor (GABAAR) pentamers are assembled from a pool of 19 subunits, and variety in subunit combinations diversifies GABAAR functions to tune brain activity. Pentamers with distinct subunit compositions localize differentially at synaptic and non-synaptic sites to mediate phasic and tonic inhibition, respectively. Despite multitudes of theoretical permutations, limited subunit combinations have been identified in the brain. Currently, no molecular model exists for combinatorial GABAAR assembly in vivo. Here, we reveal assembly rules of native GABAAR complexes that explain GABAAR subunit subcellular distributions using mice and Xenopus laevis oocytes. First, α subunits possess intrinsic signals to segregate into distinct pentamers. Second, γ2 is essential for GABAAR assembly with Neuroligin-2 (NL2) and GARLHs, which localize GABAARs at synapses. Third, δ suppresses α6 synaptic localization by preventing assembly with GARLHs/NL2. These findings establish the first molecular model for combinatorial GABAAR assembly in vivo and reveal an assembly pathway regulating GABAAR synaptic localization.

Research organism: Mouse

Introduction

Heteromeric ion channels are tailored from subunit arrays to ensure precision in channel function and exquisite control over membrane potential. In the brain, fast inhibition of synaptic membrane depolarization is mediated principally by the binding of GABA to ionotropic GABA receptors (GABAARs), hetero- or homo-pentamers consisting of combinations of six α, three β and ten non-α/β subunits (Barnard et al., 1998; Olsen and Sieghart, 2008). While a huge number of permutations are theoretically possible, only a fraction are observed in neural tissues, with just a handful of major GABAAR subtypes dominating (Barnard et al., 1998; McKernan and Whiting, 1996; Olsen and Sieghart, 2008). This preferential subunit assembly results in GABAARs with specialized localization and function. For example, in cerebellar granule cells, α1/β/γ2-containing GABAARs localize at synapses and mediate phasic inhibition, whereas α6/β/δ-containing GABAARs localize at extrasynaptic sites and mediate tonic inhibition (Günther et al., 1995; Jones et al., 1997; Mihalek et al., 1999; Nusser et al., 1998). Beyond these cardinal cases, there are numerous long-standing examples of particular GABAAR subtypes whose subunit compositions, distributions and functions have been described (Fritschy et al., 2012; Olsen and Sieghart, 2008; Sigel and Steinmann, 2012). For example, the major GABAAR subtypes contain at most one non-α/β subunit, making non-α/β subunits mutually exclusive within a pentamer (Araujo et al., 1998; Jechlinger et al., 1998). By contrast, it remains unclear how the majority of GABAAR pentamers incorporate two α subunits of a single isoform (Barnard et al., 1998), or which non-α/β subunit dictates pentamer assembly of each α and β isoform in vivo. Thus, the rules constraining GABAAR assembly, and the precise mechanism by which GABAAR subtype determines distribution, have not been fully revealed.

Ion channels often function with auxiliary subunits that modulate localization and/or channel properties (Jackson and Nicoll, 2011; Yan and Tomita, 2012). AMPA receptors form a complex with TARP auxiliary subunits, which are required for AMPA receptor synaptic localization. Similarly, GARLH putative auxiliary subunits of GABAARs were recently identified in the brain (Yamasaki et al., 2017). GARLHs form complexes with GABAARs and the inhibitory synaptic cell adhesion molecule Neuroligin-2 (NL2), and are essential for synaptic localization and inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs), but not GABAAR activity at the cell surface in primary hippocampal neurons and the hippocampus. Furthermore, synaptic localization of the inhibitory scaffolding molecule gephyrin requires GARLH expression in hippocampus (Yamasaki et al., 2017). Thus, GARLHs play a major role in the synaptic localization and downstream signaling of GABAARs. However, the subunit specificity of GABAAR assembly with GARLH/NL2 in vivo is not fully understood.

Here, we aimed to uncover the rules determining which subunits coassemble within a single complex, and which segregate into distinct complexes. To address this question, we examined the formation of GABAARs and their association with GARLH/NL2 in heterologous cells and in vivo using various knock out mice. Our results reveal three novel assembly rules for GABAARs and GARLH/NL2. First, α1 and α6 subunits possess intrinsic signals to preferentially segregate into distinct pentamers. Second, γ2 is required for native GABAARs to assemble with GARLH/NL2. Third, δ inhibits assembly of α6 with γ2 and thus GARLH/NL2. These findings establish a simple model for restricted combinations of subunits in GABAAR pentamers in vivo and reveal an assembly pathway that increases GABAAR synaptic targeting and synaptic transmission in the absence of δ.

Results

Distinct compositions of GARLHed and GARLHless GABAARs

As an in vivo model for GABAAR assembly, we focused on cerebellar granule cells, which predominantly express two distinct GABAAR subtypes: α1/β/γ2- and α6/β/δ-containing GABAARs (Jechlinger et al., 1998; Nusser et al., 1999). We analyzed constituents of native GABAAR complexes using blue native PAGE (BN-PAGE). BN-PAGE preserves protein complexes but cannot accurately measure their molecular weights, because in contrast to SDS-PAGE, protein complex structure affects migration on BN-PAGE (Kim et al., 2010; Schägger et al., 1994). For example, AMPA receptors lacking their N-terminal domains migrate at 55 kDa on SDS-PAGE, while a tetramer of these subunits migrates at 480 kDa on BN-PAGE, roughly twice the expected 220 kDa for a tetramer of 55 kDa subunits (Kim et al., 2010).

We solubilized mouse cerebellar membranes with lauryl maltose-neopentyl glycol (MNG), followed by BN-PAGE and western blotting. We found that all δ and most α6 migrated at 480 kDa, whereas nearly all γ2 and most α1 migrated at 720 kDa (Figure 1). By contrast, β2/3 migrated equally at 480 and 720 kDa (Figure 1). In the brain, GABAARs assemble with GARLHs and NL2 to form a tripartite complex that migrates at 720 kDa on BN-PAGE (Yamasaki et al., 2017). Consistently, we found that both GARLH4 and NL2 also co-migrated at 720 kDa. Thus, endogenous GABAAR subunits segregate into two major complexes—a GARLH/NL2-associated (GARLHed) α1/β/γ2-containing complex migrating at 720 kDa, and a GARLHless α6/β/δ-containing GABAAR migrating at 480 kDa (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Distinct compositions of GARLHed and GARLHless GABAARs.

Figure 1.

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Cerebellar membranes solubilized with lauryl maltose-neopentyl glycol (MNG) were subjected to BN-PAGE. The α6 and δ GABAAR subunits preferentially migrated at 480 kDa, while γ2 and α1 as well as GARLH4 and neuroligin-2 (NL2) predominantly migrated at 720 kDa. β2/3 signal was observed equally at 480 and 720 kDa. The arrow and arrowhead indicate the GARLHed and GARLHless GABAAR, respectively, while the asterisk (*) denotes the NL2 band without GABAARs. The images are representative of three independent experiments.

α1 and α6 subunits possess intrinsic signals to preferentially segregate into distinct pentamers

To reveal rules for GABAAR assembly, we turned to cRNA-injected Xenopus laevis oocytes as a heterologous expression system. We first confirmed assembly in this system of the GABAAR subunits α1, β2 and HA-tagged γ2 (HAγ2, in which the HA epitope was inserted after the γ2 signal sequence) by analyzing Triton X-100-solubilized oocyte membranes using BN-PAGE. We observed α1/β2 and α1/β2/HAγ2 hetero-oligomers at 520 kDa, slightly higher than the 480 kDa complex in the brain (Figure 2A). This size difference corresponds with differences in the molecular weights of the GABAAR subunits expressed in oocytes and in the brain on SDS-PAGE and may be caused by differences in species, alternative splicing or post-translational modification (Yamasaki et al., 2017). Corresponding to the 520 kDa complexes, we observed α1/β2- and α1/β2/γ2-mediated GABA-evoked currents (Figure 2—figure supplement 1A). In addition, we detected weakly expressed β2/HAγ2 hetero-oligomers at 600 kDa (Figure 2A) and tiny β2/γ2-mediated GABA-evoked currents (Figure 2—figure supplement 1A), whereas neither α1, β2 nor HAγ2 homomers were detected (Figure 2A and Figure 2—figure supplement 1A). These results demonstrate the assembly of functional GABAAR complexes in cRNA-injected oocytes.

Figure 2. α1 and α6 subunits segregate into distinct pentamers independent of non-α/β subunits.

(A) Reconstitution of GABAAR assembly in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Membranes from oocytes injected with cRNAs encoding the indicated subunits were solubilized with Triton X-100 and subjected to SDS- and BN-PAGE. The GABAAR at 520 kDa was reconstituted by co-expression of α1 and β2 or α1, β2 and HA-tagged γ2 in oocytes injected with the corresponding cRNAs (0.55 ng ea). Co-expressing β2 and HAγ2 produced a weak band at 600 kDa. The images are representative of two independent experiments. (B) Co-migration of a GABAAR oligomer and concatenated pentamer. Membranes from cRNA-injected oocytes were solubilized with Triton X-100 and subjected to SDS- and BN-PAGE. An α1/HAβ2/γ2 GABAAR oligomer and a concatenated pentamer, HAβ2-α1-HAβ2-α1-γ2 (HA2Pent), migrated at 520 kDa. Monomers and HA2Pent were visualized at the expected molecular weights on SDS-PAGE. An anti-α1 antibody that recognizes the N-terminus of mature α1 proteins (α1NTD) detects the monomeric, but not concatenated, α1 subunit. The asterisk (*) denotes a nonspecific band observed on all lanes, indicating that the band is not heterologously expressed GABAAR subunit. The images are representative of three independent experiments. (C) GABAAR complexes from oocytes co-injected with cRNAs of HAα6, α1 and β2 were examined by antibody shift assay. An anti-α6 antibody shifted up HAα6 but not α1 signal, whereas an anti-α1 antibody shifted up α1 but not HAα6 signal. The images are representative of three independent experiments. (D) GABAAR complexes in cerebella from control and γ2/δ GC-DKO mice were examined by antibody shift assay on BN-PAGE. Addition of anti-α1 antibody shifted up α1 signal at 480 and 720 kDa in both genotypes. In contrast, in both genotypes, α6 signal was not shifted by addition of anti-α1 antibody. The images are representative of three independent experiments. The arrow and arrowhead indicate the GARLHed and GARLHless GABAAR, respectively, and antibody bound complexes are indicated.

Figure 2.

Figure 2—figure supplement 1. GABAAR assembly in cRNA-injected oocytes and characterization of knockout mice.

Figure 2—figure supplement 1.

(A) Oocytes were injected with the indicated cRNAs (1.65 ng ea) and GABA (100 μM)-evoked currents were measured using two electrode voltage clamp recording (Vh=-40 mV). GABA-evoked currents were detected in oocytes injected with α1/β2/γ2 and α1/β2 cRNAs, and tiny currents were detected in oocytes injected with β2/γ2 cRNAs (n = 5–6 oocytes). Representative traces are shown. N.I., no injection. Data are given as mean ± s.e.m. (B) Oocyte membranes from cRNA-injected oocytes were solubilized with Triton X-100 and subjected to SDS- and BN-PAGE. A tandem trimer, HAβ2-α1-β2, when co-expressed with both α1 and γ2 monomers, migrated at 520 kDa, whereas HAβ2-α1-β2 alone expressed weakly and migrated as 400 and 600 kDa bands, presumably corresponding to the tandem trimer and a dimer of tandem trimers (hexamer), respectively. No degraded products of the trimer were detected on SDS-PAGE. The asterisk (*) denotes a nonspecific band. The images are representative of three independent experiments. (C) A schematic diagram of an antibody shift assay on BN-PAGE. Antibody binding shifts the molecular weight of a protein complex on BN-PAGE. (D) Breeding scheme of γ2 and δ GC-KO mice. Mice that do not carry a transgene of Cre recombinase were used as controls. (E) Weights of granule cell (GC) specific-γ2 or δ knockout (KO) and γ2/δ GC-double KO mice were unchanged relative to control littermates without Cre recombinase (Control) (n = 6–9 animals). Data are given as mean ± s.e.m.; Student’s t-test indicated no significant difference.
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To reveal the number of subunits comprising the 520 kDa complex in cRNA-injected oocytes, we compared the migration of an α1/HAβ2/γ2 hetero-oligomer and a pentameric GABAAR concatemer, HAβ2-α1-HAβ2-α1-γ2 (HA2Pent), that was previously shown to be functional (Baur et al., 2006). On SDS-PAGE, both monomeric HAβ2 and HA2Pent were detected at their expected molecular weights of 50 kDa and 260 kDa, respectively (Figure 2B). On BN-PAGE, HA2Pent migrated at 520 kDa, similar to α1/HAβ2/γ2 GABAARs, although the signal was weak, likely due to a difference in pentamer expression levels and HA epitope accessibility (Figure 2B). An anti-α1 N-terminus antibody that recognizes monomeric but not concatenated α1 detected α1/HAβ2/γ2, but not HA2Pent, at 520 kDa (Figure 2B), confirming the absence of monomeric α1 in oocytes expressing the concatenated pentamer. We also examined a concatenated GABAAR trimer, HAβ2-α1-β2, which migrated at 520 kDa only when co-expressed with both α1 and γ2 monomers (Figure 2—figure supplement 1B). HAβ2-α1-β2 alone was only detectable following long exposures and migrated at 400 and 600 kDa, presumably corresponding to the trimer and a dimer of trimers (hexamer), respectively (Figure 2—figure supplement 1B). Thus, we concluded that the 520 kDa complex in cRNA-injected oocytes consists of a GABAAR pentamer.

The majority of GABAAR pentamers in vivo incorporate two α subunits of a single isoform (Barnard et al., 1998). Consistent with this, we found that α1 and α6 preferentially incorporate into GARLHed and GARLHless GABAAR complexes, respectively, and thus are largely segregated in vivo (Figure 1). However, it is unclear what rule determines α1 and α6 segregation. Because γ2 and δ are mutually exclusive (Araujo et al., 1998; Jechlinger et al., 1998), one possibility is that preferential assembly of α1 with γ2 and α6 with δ ensures α1/α6 segregation. Alternatively, α1 and α6 may segregate independent of non-α/β subunits. To directly test this, we analyzed assembly of both α isoforms with β2 in the absence of non-α/β subunits using an antibody shift assay. An antibody shift assay is a powerful assay to confirm the existence of a protein in a complex on BN-PAGE (Figure 2—figure supplement 1C). In this method, we pre-incubate lysate with an antibody prior BN-PAGE and western blotting. Antibody-bound complexes will migrate at a higher molecular weight on the BN-PAGE gel, indicating the existence of the antigen in the protein complex (Figure 2—figure supplement 1C). It is critical that the antibody for pre-incubation and the antibody for western blotting come from different species, because pre-incubated antibodies can also be detected by the secondary antibody during western blot analysis. We expressed both α isoforms (α1 and HA-tagged α6, permitting use of rabbit anti-α6 and mouse anti-HA antibodies for HAα6 shift and detection, respectively) and β2 subunits. α1 and HAα6 ran as 520 kDa pentamers on BN-PAGE (Figure 2C, first lane). Addition of anti-α6 antibody shifted up only the HAα6 signal, but not the α1 signal (Figure 2C, third lane). Conversely, addition of anti-α1 antibody shifted up only the α1 signal, but not the HAα6 signal (Figure 2C, second lane). The results indicate that α1 and HAα6 segregate independent of non-α/β subunits when co-expressed with β2, and thus their segregation is encoded by the α subunits themselves.

To test if this was also true in vivo, we used the antibody shift assay to analyze α1/α6 segregation in cerebellum lacking both the γ2 and δ subunits. Because conventional γ2 knockout (KO) mice show postnatal lethality (Günther et al., 1995), we crossed double conditional Gabrg2fl/fl/Gabrdfl/fl mice with transgenic mice expressing Cre recombinase under the Gabra6 promoter (Fünfschilling and Reichardt, 2002; Lee and Maguire, 2013; Schweizer et al., 2003) (Figure 2—figure supplement 1D) (see Materials and methods), resulting in viable γ2/δ granule cell (GC)-specific double knock out (DKO) mice that displayed no changes in body weight (Figure 2—figure supplement 1E). In both control and γ2/δ GC-DKO cerebella, addition of an anti-α1 antibody did not supershift the α6 signal, but did supershift the α1 signal expressing mostly in the Purkinje cells, suggesting that α1 does not incorporate into α6-containing complexes even in the absence of γ2 and δ (Figure 2D). Thus, in vivo, the segregation of α1 and α6 into distinct GABAAR complexes is independent of γ2 and δ.

γ2 is essential for assembly of the native GARLHed GABAAR complex

We next explored the preferential association of γ2 subunits with GARLH/NL2. Although we have previously shown that γ2 promotes GARLH4/NL2 assembly with α1/β2/γ2-containing GABAARs in heterologous systems (Yamasaki et al., 2017), whether γ2 is necessary for assembly of native GARLHed complexes in neurons remains unclear. If γ2 is necessary for GABAAR assembly with GARLH4, it should be present in all GARLHed complexes. We first asked to what extent α1 and β2 subunits assemble with γ2 in oocytes using an antibody shift assay. When α1 and β2 were coexpressed without γ2, they formed a 520 kDa GABAAR that was not affected by pre-incubation with an anti-γ2 antibody (Figure 3A). By contrast, when γ2 was coexpressed with α1 and β2, the three subunits formed a 520 kDa GABAAR that was completely supershifted by the anti-γ2 antibody (Figure 3A), indicating that all α1 and β2 assemble with γ2 in our oocyte system.

Figure 3. γ2 is required for assembly of the native GARLHed complex.

(A) Membranes from cRNA-injected oocytes (0.18 ng ea) were solubilized in Triton X-100 and analyzed by BN-PAGE. α1 and β2 with or without HA-tagged γ2 migrated at 480 kDa. Addition of an anti-γ2 antibody induced an upward shift of GABAARs from α1/β2/HAγ2-injected oocytes but had no effect on GABAARs from α1/β2-injected oocytes, indicating nearly complete incorporation of HAγ2 into GABAAR pentamers. The images are representative of two independent experiments. (B) GABAAR complexes in cerebellum were examined by antibody shift assay. In cerebellum, anti-δ antibody caused most β2/3 signal at 480 kDa to shift up, but did not affect β2/3 signal at 720 kDa. In contrast, anti-γ2 antibody shifted up β2/3 signal at 720 kDa. When anti-δ and anti-γ2 antibodies were combined, both 480 and 720 kDa bands shifted up almost completely. The images are representative of two independent experiments. (C) Primary cultured cerebellar granule cells were prepared from conditional γ2 knockout mice with or without a transgene encoding tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase (CreERT), and treated with 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) from DIV1.5 to DIV3. At DIV9, cell membranes were solubilized in MNG and examined by BN-PAGE. In neurons expressing CreERT, γ2 was eliminated, and α1 and β2 at 720 kDa collapsed to 480 kDa. The images are representative of three independent experiments. The arrow and arrowhead indicate the GARLHed and GARLHless GABAAR, respectively, and antibody-bound complexes are indicated.

Figure 3.

Figure 3—figure supplement 1. A schematic diagram of an antibody shift assay for distinct GABAAR complexes on BN-PAGE.

Figure 3—figure supplement 1.

GABAARs comprised of α6, β2/3 and δ form a complex at 480 kDa, and the addition of an anti-δ antibody to the complex shifts its mobility on BN-PAGE. On the other hand, GABAARs comprised of α1, β2/3 and γ2 form complexes with GARLH and NL2 at 720 kDa, and the addition of an anti-γ2 antibody to the complex shifts its mobility. When both anti δ and γ2 antibodies are added, mobility of both the complexes at 480 and 720 kDa are shifted.
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To determine what portion of GARLHed GABAARs contain γ2 in the cerebellum, we performed an antibody shift assay of cerebellar lysate using BN-PAGE, and blotted for β2/3, which is present in both GARLHed complexes and GARLHless GABAARs in the cerebellum (Figure 1). Addition of only an anti-γ2 antibody supershifted most or all the GARLHed complex, and only a small fraction of the GARLHless GABAAR (Figure 3B). On the other hand, addition of an anti-δ antibody specifically supershifted most of the GARLHless GABAAR (Figure 3B). Addition of both anti-γ2 and anti-δ antibodies supershifted both the GARLHed complex and GARLHless GABAAR (Figure 3B). A schematic diagram of this result is provided (Figure 3—figure supplement 1). These results suggest that most of the GARLHed complexes and GARLHless GABAARs in the cerebellum contain γ2 and δ,respectively.

To assess if γ2 is necessary for GABAAR assembly with GARLH/NL2 in neurons, we examined assembly specifically in γ2 deficient cerebellar granule cells, since elimination of γ2 from all cells causes mouse lethality (Günther et al., 1995). We cultured granule cells from conditional Gabrg2fl/fl mice expressing tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase (CreERT) under the CAG promoter (Hayashi and McMahon, 2002), as well as from control Gabrg2fl/fl littermates not expressing CreERT, and treated both with 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) from DIV 1.5–3. In control primary cultures, both α1 and γ2 incorporated equally into GARLHed complexes and GARLHless GABAARs (Figure 3C). On the other hand, in Gabrg2fl/fl cultures expressing CreERT, both γ2 expression and GARLHed complexes were eliminated (Figure 3C). Combining our new finding that γ2 is required in vivo for assembling the native GABAAR complex (Figure 3C) with the finding from Yamasaki et al. (2017) that γ2 is required for reconstituting the native GABAAR complex in a heterologous system, we conclude that the association of native GABAARs with GARLHs requires γ2.

γ2 is essential for GABAAR synaptic localization in the adult brain

γ2 is required for GABAAR synaptic localization in cultured cortical neurons (Essrich et al., 1998) and neonatal dorsal root ganglion neurons (Günther et al., 1995). However, the role of γ2 in GABAAR synaptic localization in the adult brain remains unclear. To examine GABAAR synaptic localization in the adult brain in the absence of γ2, we turned to cerebellar granule cell (GC)-specific conditional γ2 knockout (KO) mice (γ2 GC-KO) obtained by crossing conditional Gabrg2fl/fl mice with Gabra6 promoter-Cre transgenic mice (Fünfschilling and Reichardt, 2002; Schweizer et al., 2003). These mice are viable with no change in body weight (Figure 2—figure supplement 1E). We previously showed that in γ2 GC-KO mice, the protein levels of GARLH4 and NL2 are reduced in total cerebellar lysate, while the protein levels of GARLH4, NL2 and α1 are reduced in the glomerular postsynapse-enriched fraction (Yamasaki et al., 2017).

To assess the role of γ2 in GABAAR synaptic localization in the adult brain directly, we examined the distribution of GABAARs in γ2 GC-KO granule cells in vivo using immunohistochemistry. We confirmed loss of γ2 expression specifically in the granular layer of adult γ2 GC-KO mice (Figure 4A). By contrast, overall intensity of α1 and β2 signal was not noticeably altered (Figure 4A). High-magnification images revealed the doughnut-like structure of cerebellar glomeruli (Figure 4B). A central hole corresponds to an excitatory input and is surrounded by excitatory synapses on the glomerular interior, while inhibitory inputs form synapses on the glomerular periphery (Jakab and Hámori, 1988). In control mice, α1 formed clusters apposed to inhibitory presynaptic VGAT on the glomerular periphery, and also displayed a weaker, diffuse distribution across the entire glomeruli that overlapped with a glomerular marker, the NMDA receptor subunit GluN1 (Figure 4B and C). By contrast, in the γ2 GC-KO mice, the fraction of α1 colocalized with VGAT was substantially reduced, while the fraction of GluN1 colocalized with α1 was substantially increased (Figure 4B and C). We next evaluated GABAAR-mediated synaptic transmission. Because the frequency of miniature IPSCs (mIPSCs) was low in granule cells from acute cerebellar slices, we measured GABAAR-mediated spontaneous IPSCs (sIPSCs). GABAAR-mediated sIPSCs were almost completely eliminated in γ2 GC-KO mice (Figure 4D and E). The rare residual sIPSCs in γ2 GC-KO mice displayed decreased amplitude (Figure 4F). Picrotoxin eliminated sIPSCs (Figure 4D). The results indicate that the vast majority of GABAAR-mediated synaptic events require γ2.

Figure 4. γ2 is essential for GABAAR synaptic localization in the brain.

Figure 4.

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(A, B) Localization of GABAAR subunits in the cerebellar granule cell (GC)-γ2 knockout (KO) mice and age matched controls without Cre expression (Control). Inhibitory presynaptic VGAT and excitatory postsynaptic GluN1 were co-stained. (A) Loss of γ2 was observed specifically in the granular layer in γ2 GC-KO mice, whereas α1 and β2 remained. The images are representative of four independent experiments. (B and C) High-magnification representative images showed protein distribution on each glomerulus. Inhibitory inputs project to outer edges of the glomerulus, whereas excitatory inputs project to inner edges of the glomerulus. In the γ2 GC-KO, the fraction of α1 colocalized with VGAT was reduced, whereas the fraction of GluN1 colocalized with α1 was increased (n = 30 areas/2 animal each). (D–F) Spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) were recorded from granule cells in acute cerebellar slices, and representative traces are shown (D). In γ2 GC-KO mice, sIPSC frequency (E) and amplitude (F) were dramatically reduced, but not completely eliminated (n = 4 bins (E), n = 69–1740 events (F), see Materials and methods). The asterisk indicates a sIPSC recorded from a γ2 GC-KO mouse. Picrotoxin (100 µM) blocked all sIPSCs. (G and H) Representative images show localization of gephyrin in γ2 GC-KO and control mice. Gephyrin colocalized with VGAT at the glomerular periphery in controls. In the γ2 GC-KO, the fraction of gephyrin colocalized with VGAT was reduced, and at the same time, the fraction of GluN1 colocalized with gephyrin was reduced (n = 30 areas/2 animal each). Scale bars: 60 μm (A), 5 μm (B, G). Data are given as mean ± s.e.m.; p values were determined using student’s t test.

We also showed previously that GARLH is required for the synaptic clustering of the inhibitory scaffold gephyrin in the hippocampus (Yamasaki et al., 2017) and loss of gephyrin clustering was observed in γ2-null primary cortical neurons (Essrich et al., 1998). To determine if γ2 also plays a role in gephyrin clustering in the adult brain, we examined gephyrin distribution in γ2 GC-KO mice. In control mice, gephyrin clusters colocalized with the inhibitory presynaptic marker VGAT at the glomerular periphery (Figure 4G and H). By contrast, in the γ2 GC-KO mice, the fraction of gephyrin co-localized with VGAT was substantially reduced and the fraction of GluN1 signal co-localized with gephyrin was substantially reduced. (Figure 4G and H). Thus, γ2 directs the synaptic localization of gephyrin in the adult brain.

δ inhibits synaptic localization of α6-containing GABAARs

Two non-α/β subunits, γ2 and δ, are expressed in cerebellar granule cells, and γ2 is essential for GABAAR assembly with GARLH/NL2 and synaptic localization in vivo. We next examined the role of δ in GABAAR localization. δ assembles preferentially with α6-containing receptors (Farrant and Nusser, 2005). Interestingly, in δ KO cerebellar granule cells, an increase in the frequency and furosemide sensitivity of GABAAR-mediated miniature IPSCs (mIPSCs) was reported (Accardi et al., 2015). Since furosemide selectively potentiates α6-containing GABAARs, changes in furosemide sensitivity may suggest changes in α6 localization. To directly assess the role of δ in α6 localization, we analyzed the distribution of the α6 subunit in δ GC-KO cerebellum. We observed no obvious changes in the inhibitory presynaptic marker VGAT or the glomerular marker GluN1 in δ GC-KO cerebellum (Figure 5A). On the other hand, we observed weaker α6 signal in three δ GC-KO cerebella consistently by immunohistochemistry (Figure 5A). To confirm the specificity of the α6 signal, we obtained conventional α6 KO cerebellum (Aller et al., 2003), in which we observed an absence of α6 signal (Figure 5A). In addition, a reduction in expression of δ and β2/3 in total cerebellar lysate (Figure 5—figure supplement 1A) and δ signal by immunohistochemistry (Figure 5—figure supplement 1B) from α6 KO mice was confirmed, as published previously (Jones et al., 1997; Nusser et al., 1999). High-magnification images revealed that, in δ GC-KO mice, α6 formed clusters at the glomerular periphery that substantially overlapped with VGAT (Figure 5B). By contrast, in control littermates, α6 signal was diffuse and overlapped with GluN1 signal (Figure 5B). The fraction of α6 co-localized with VGAT was substantially increased in the granular layer of δ GC-KO mice, whereas the fraction of the entire glomerular marker GluN1 colocalized with α6 was reduced (Figure 5C). These results indicate that δ suppresses synaptic localization of α6 in the brain.

Figure 5. Delta inhibits synaptic localization of α6-containing GABAARs.

(A–C) The distribution of α6 was examined in the cerebellum of δ GC-knockout (KO) and α6 KO mice. Inhibitory presynaptic VGAT and excitatory postsynaptic GluN1 were co-stained. (A) Low magnification images showed specific α6 signal in cerebellar granular layers in wild-type (Control) and δ KO mice, but not in α6 KO mice. The images are representative from three animals for each genotype. (B) High-magnification representative images showed VGAT around the glomeruli and GluN1 inside the glomeruli. In control mice, α6 signal was diffuse over the glomeruli, and overlapped substantially with GluN1. In contrast, in δ KO mice, α6 signal was largely confined to the peripheral glomeruli where it colocalized with VGAT. (C) The fraction of α6 signal co-localized with VGAT was increased in δ KO mice, whereas the fraction of GluN1 signal co-localized with α6 signal was reduced (n = 40–43 areas/3 animal each). Data are given as mean ± s.e.m.; p values were determined with student's t test. Scale bars: 200 μm (A), 5 μm (B).

Figure 5.

Figure 5—figure supplement 1. α6 is required for expression of the δ subunit.

Figure 5—figure supplement 1.

(A) Protein levels in cerebella from α6 KO mice were measured. In α6 KO mice, α6 was eliminated, δ was reduced 85% and β2/3 was reduced 60%, whereas α1, γ2 and the excitatory synapse marked PSD-95 were not significantly altered. Protein levels were normalized to those from WT mice (n = 3 animals). Data are given as mean ± s.e.m.; p values were determined with student's t test. (B) δ expression was examined by immunohistochemistry and representative images from two independent experiments were shown. δ signal was observed in cerebellar granular layers in wild-type (Control) mice, but not in δ GC-KO and α6 KO mice. The inhibitory presynaptic marker VGAT and the excitatory postsynaptic marker GluN1 were not altered in these mice. Scale bar: 200 µm.
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δ suppresses an assembly pathway for α6-containing GARLHed GABAARs

α6 localizes at synapses in δ GC-KO cerebellum (Figure 5), and γ2-containing GARLHed complexes are essential for synaptic GABAAR activity (Figure 4). These results imply that, in the absence of δ, α6 incorporates with γ2 into GARLHed complexes.

To test this directly in vivo, we analyzed the compositions of GABAAR complexes in δ GC-KO mice together with γ2 GC-KO and γ2/δ GC-DKO mice. Most strikingly, α6 incorporated into GARLHed complexes in cerebella from δ GC-KO mice, whereas α6 incorporated into GARLHless GABAARs in cerebella from control, γ2 GC-KO and γ2/δ GC-DKO mice, on BN-PAGE (Figure 6A). The α6-containing GARLHed complex in δ GC-KO cerebella was eliminated in γ2/δ GC-DKO cerebella, supporting the earlier finding that γ2 is required for formation of the GARLHed complex (Figure 6A). Both cerebella from γ2 GC-KO and γ2/δ GC-DKO mice showed only a partial reduction in γ2 protein and the GARLHed complex, because the γ2 subunit and GARLHed complexes are also expressed in non-granule cell cerebellar neurons, including Purkinje cells (Laurie et al., 1992) (Figure 4A). In δ GC-KO cerebella, the amount of γ2 and NL2 in GARLHed complexes was increased relative to controls (Figure 6A and B). Consistent with this, in δ GC-KO cerebellum, all the essential components of GARLHed complexes—GARLH4, NL2 and γ2—were upregulated without concomitant upregulation of α1, while α6 was only slightly decreased (Figure 6C). We also observed an increase in α1 and γ2 in GARLHless GABAARs on BN-PAGE in δ GC-KO cerebella, implying that in δ GC-KO cerebella, GARLH4 and/or NL2 becomes limiting for the GARLHed complex (Figure 6A and B). Together, these results suggest that δ inhibits the incorporation of α6 into γ2-containing GARLHed complexes in vivo.

Figure 6. δ suppresses an assembly pathway for α6 with γ2, GARLH and NL2.

Figure 6.

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(A and B) δ suppresses incorporation of α6 into GABAAR/GARLH/NL2 complexes. (A) GABAAR complexes in cerebella from mice of various genotypes were examined by BN-PAGE. In control, γ2 GC-KO and γ2/δ GC-double KO cerebella, α6 expressed predominantly at 480 kDa. In contrast, in δ KO cerebellum, α6 expressed predominantly at 720 kDa, and an increase in signals of β2/3, γ2 and NL2, but not α1, at 720 kDa was also observed. As expected, in γ2 GC-KO cerebellum, γ2 signal was reduced but not eliminated. The residual γ2 signal originates from other cell types in the cerebellum that still expressed γ2. The images are representative of three independent experiments. (B) Relative ratios of the 720 and 500 kDa complex in cerebella from control and δ GC-KO (n = 5 animals). Signal intensity of each band was measured. Relative ratios of bands at 720 and 480 kDa were calculated in control mice, and relative changes in each band intensity in δ GC-KO were estimated. Data are given as mean ± s.e.m.; p values were determined with student's t test. (C) Total protein expression in cerebella from δ KO mice. Results are shown relative to control littermates (n = 5 animals each). Elimination of δ expression was confirmed and α6 was modestly reduced. A substantial increase in γ2, GARLH4 and NL2 was observed without changes in other GABAAR subunits (α1 and β2/3) or inhibitory synaptic marker protein Gephyrin (Geph). Data are given as mean ± s.e.m.; p values were determined with student's t test. (D) δ inhibits α6 assembly with γ2. GABAAR complexes from cRNA-injected oocytes were examined by BN-PAGE. In oocytes expressing HAα6, β2 and γ2 with or without δ, HAα6 and β2/3 migrated at 520 kDa. Addition of anti-δ antibody, but not addition of anti-γ2 antibody, to membranes from HAα6/β2/γ2/δ-expressing oocytes shifted HAα6 and β2 signal upward, indicating preferential assembly of α6 with δ relative to γ2. On the other hand, when δ was not present, addition of anti-γ2 antibody shifted HAα6 and β2 signal upward. The images are representative of four independent experiments. (E) Membranes from oocytes injected with the indicated cRNAs (0.2 ng ea for α1, β2, γ2 and GARLH4; 0.5 ng for δ; 1.0 ng for α6 and NL2) were analyzed using BN-PAGE. Upon co-expression with γ2, but not δ, both α1 and α6 assembled with β2 and formed complexes with GARLH4 and NL2 at 720 kDa. The images are representative of two independent experiments. (F) α1 and α6 segregate into distinct complexes, even when both associate with GARLH/NL2. GABAAR complexes in cerebella from γ2 GC-KO and δ GC-KO mice were examined by antibody shift assay on BN-PAGE. Addition of anti-α1 antibody shifted up α1 signal at 480 and 720 kDa in both genotypes. In contrast, in both genotypes, α6 signal was not shifted by addition of anti-α1 antibody. The images are representative of three independent experiments. The arrow and arrowhead indicate the GARLHed and GARLHless GABAAR, respectively, and antibody-bound complexes are indicated. (G) δ suppresses an assembly pathway for α6-containing GARLHed GABAARs. γ2 assembles with α1, β2/3 and GARLH/NL2 to mediate synaptic localization and phasic activation. Normally, δ sequesters α6, thereby suppressing γ2 interaction with α6. α6/δ-containing receptors do not interact with GARLH and neuroligin-2 (NL2), which are required for synaptic localization and phasic activation, and thus α6/δ-containing receptors localize at extrasynaptic sites and mediate tonic activation. In the absence of δ, α6 assembles with γ2, β2/3 and GARLH/NL2 to mediate synaptic localization and phasic activation.

We next confirmed that δ is sufficient to inhibit α6 incorporation into γ2-containing GABAARs in heterologous cells. To do this, we first used the antibody shift assay in cRNA-injected oocytes in the absence of GARLH/NL2. When HAα6 was expressed with β2, γ2 and δ, an anti-δ antibody, but not an anti-γ2 antibody, caused HAα6 signal to shift up (Figure 6D), indicating HAα6 oligomerization with δ but not γ2. In contrast, when HAα6 was expressed with β2 and γ2 without δ, the anti-γ2 antibody, but not anti-δ antibody, supershifted the HAα6 signal (Figure 6D). To confirm directly that α6 could incorporate into GARLHed complexes, we expressed combinations of α1, α6, γ2 and δ with both β2 and GARLH4/NL2 in oocytes and analyzed complexes by BN-PAGE. We found that GABAARs associated with GARLH4/NL2, regardless of whether α1 or α6 was expressed, when coexpressed with γ2, but not δ (Figure 6E). These results indicate that δ is sufficient to inhibit the oligomerization of α6 with γ2.

Finally, we noted that although α1 and α6 preferentially segregate into distinct GABAARs independent of non-α/β subunits (Figure 2C), in δ GC-KO cerebella, both α1 and α6 incorporate into GARLHed complexes (Figure 6A). To test if α1 and α6 segregate into distinct GARLHed complexes, we analyzed α1/α6 coassembly in γ2 GC-KO and δ GC-KO cerebella using the antibody shift assay. Addition of an anti-α1 antibody did not supershift α6 signal from GARLHless GABAARs in γ2 GC-KO or from GARLHed complexes in δ GC-KO cerebella (Figure 6F). In contrast, addition of an anti-α1 antibody shifted up the α1 signal from GARLHed complexes in both cerebella (Figure 6F). This suggests that α1 and α6 remain largely segregated into separate complexes, even when both assemble with GARLH/NL2.

Discussion

A long-standing question in the field of GABAAR biology is the so-called ‘combinatorial principle of receptor construction’ (Barnard et al., 1998): What pentameric arrangements are favored in vivo, and what molecular rules determine these arrangements? This study reveals three novel rules governing the ‘combinatorial principle’ for native GABAAR complexes. First, α1and α6 subunits segregate into distinct GABAAR pentamers independent of non-α/β subunits. Second, γ2 is required for GABAARs to assemble with GARLH/NL2. Third, δ inhibits the incorporation of α6 into GARLHed complexes by sequestering it into GARLHless GABAARs. These rules reveal the presence of an assembly pathway for α6-containing GARLHed complexes that is normally silenced by δ (Figure 6G). In the absence of δ, this pathway serves to increase inhibitory synaptic transmission (Accardi et al., 2015) by allowing α6-containing pentamers to assemble with GARLH/NL2 and localize to synapses (Figure 6G).

Subunit compositions of distinct GABAAR subtypes

In theory, a huge number of pentameric arrangements of GABAAR subunits are possible. Our work reveals rules that help explain both why certain GABAAR subtypes are favored, and why different subunits display distinct subcellular distributions. However, our results don’t explain the atomic principles that must ultimately underlie these rules. For example, we found that intrinsic properties of α1 and α6 ensure their segregation into distinct pentamers independent of non-α/β subunits (Figures 2C, D and 6F), but the atomic basis for this segregation was not investigated. The subunit arrangement in the prototypical α1/β2/γ2 pentamer is thought to be β2-α1-β2-α1-γ2 (Baur et al., 2006). In this case, it remains unclear how one α1 subunit could preferentially recruit another α1 subunit, given the intervening β2 subunit. One possibility is that non-adjacent α1 subunits actually make physical contacts, for example through their intracellular loops located between transmembrane domains 3 and 4. Another possibility is that the identity of each α subunit is conveyed allosterically via the intervening β2 subunit. For the α6/β2/δ pentamer, the situation is slightly different. One model for the subunit order for this pentamer is β2-α6-δ-α6-β2, with δ situated between both α6 subunits (Baur et al., 2010). In this case, it is possible that δ simply recruits both α6 subunits. However, this would still not explain why α6 subunits preferentially coassemble, excluding α1, even in the absence of δ (Figure 2). Thus far, a structural study of a β3 homopentamer lacking intracellular loops has provided critical information regarding the overall channel architecture, as well as atomic resolution descriptions of intersubunit β3-β3 contacts (Miller and Aricescu, 2014). High-resolution structures of GARLHless and GARLHed GABAAR complexes with full-length proteins will ultimately be needed to gain atomic level insight into the assembly rules described here, and to identify domains responsible for α1 and α6 segregation.

We also found that α6 incorporates into γ2-containing GABAARs, which assemble with GARLH/NL2 (Figure 6) and localize at synapses (Figure 5) in δ GC-KO mice. Upregulation of γ2 in conventional δ KO mice was previously reported (Tretter et al., 2001), which we also observed in the δ GC-KO mice (Figure 6C). α1 and β3 were increased in conventional δ KO mice (Tretter et al., 2001) but were not changed in our cerebellar granule cell-specific δ KO mice (Figure 6C), perhaps because Cre expression under the Gabra6 promoter is delayed until around P7. In δ GC-KO mice, we also observed an increase in the other essential components of the cerebellar GARLHed GABAAR complex, namely GARLH4 and NL2 (Figure 6C). One possibility is that, in the absence of δ, the synthesis of γ2, GARLH4 and NL2 is increased to accommodate α6 that is no longer sequestered by δ. Alternatively, without δ, excess α6 might bind to and stabilize γ2, GARLH4 and/or NL2, thus increasing protein levels independent of changes in synthesis. Further studies will be needed to address these details.

Synaptic targeting of α6-containing GABAARs

In δ GC-KO mice, α6 associates with γ2, GARLH4 and NL2 and is redistributed to synapses, strongly suggesting that α6 synaptic localization, like α1 synaptic localization, requires γ2 and GARLH4. To test this formally, future studies should assess the ability of α6 to localize to synapses in the absence of γ2 and/or GARLH4 in δ KO mice. Similar to α6, α4 is proposed to localize to extrasynaptic sites and also assembles with δ in hippocampus (Jechlinger et al., 1998; Jones et al., 1997; Wongsamitkul et al., 2016). It would be interesting to examine whether, in δ KO mice, α4 also incorporates into GARLHed complexes and is targeted to inhibitory synapses.

Our findings are also consistent with the reported increase in mIPSC sensitivity to furosemide, which preferentially inhibits α6-containing GABAARs, in δ KO mice (Accardi et al., 2015). Accardi and colleagues also reported an increase in mIPSC frequency, but not amplitude, in δ KO mice. While increases in mIPSC frequency are sometimes attributed to presynaptic alterations, the authors posited a second possibility, namely that the number of inhibitory synapses is increased in the absence of δ. Given our finding that α1 and α6 segregate into distinct pentamers even in the absence of δ, one possibility is that in δ KO mice, α6-containing pentamers actually localize to and activate a distinct set of inhibitory synapses. Further studies will be needed to address this possibility.

Can manipulation of an extrasynaptic subunit modulate synaptic strength?

The major GABAAR subtypes in the brain accommodate only one non-α/β subunit, and thus incorporation of δ into a pentamer precludes incorporation of γ2 and blocks assembly with GARLH/NL2. This suggests the intriguing hypothesis that changes in δ expression—for example, by ethanol or seizure activity (Cagetti et al., 2003; Liang et al., 2006; Marutha Ravindran et al., 2007; Peng et al., 2004; Zhang et al., 2007)—could control the ratio of GARLHed complexes and GARLHless pentamers in vivo, and thus alter inhibitory synaptic strength. Supporting this, a marked increase in α6-containing GABAAR-mediated IPSCs in cerebellar granule cells was observed in δ KO mice (Accardi et al., 2015). Were this hypothesis fully substantiated, it would provide an opportunity to pharmacologically control inhibitory transmission by targeting the extrasynaptic δ subunit. Future studies are required to examine δ expression as a potential drug target.

Materials and methods

Antibodies

Protein RRID Species Provider Cat# Epitope (AA) Epitope (domain)
GABARβ2/3 AB_309747 Mouse Millipore 05–474 Not specified Not specified
GABARα1 AB_2108811 Mouse Neuromab 75–136 AA355-394 Cytoplasmic loop (intracellular)
PSD95 AB_2307331 Mouse Neuromab 75–028 AA77-299 PDZ1 and 2
HA AB_2314672 Mouse Covance MMS-101P HA peptide
GABARα1 AB_310272 Rabbit Millipore 06–868 AA1-15 (mature protein) NTD (extracellular)
GABARα6 AB_11212626 Rabbit Millipore AB5453 Cytoplasmic loop (intracellular)
GABARα6 AB_2039868 Rabbit Alomone AGA-004 AA20-37 Extracellular
GABARγ2 AB_11211236 Rabbit Millipore AB5559 Cytoplasmic loop (intracellular)
GABARδ AB_672966 Rabbit Millipore AB9752 NTD (extracellular)
HA AB_390918 Rat Roche 11 867 431 001 HA peptide
GARLH4 N.A. Rabbit Yamasaki et al N.A. AA195-247 CTD (Intracellular)
NL2 AB_993011 Rabbit Synaptic Systems 129 202 AA732-749, AA750-767 CTD (Intracellular)
VGAT AB_887873 Guinea pig Synaptic Systems 131 004 AA2-155 N-terminus
GluN1 AB_396353 Mouse BD Pharmingen 556308 AA660-811 Extracellular
Gephyrin AB_2232546 Mouse Synaptic systems 147 021 N-terminus
Gephyrin AB_397930 Mouse BD Pharmingen 610585 AA569-726 C-terminus
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Plasmids

GARLH4, NL2 and GABAAR subunit α1, α6, β2, γ2 and δ cDNAs (Open Biosystems) were cloned into appropriate vectors (pGEM-HE or gateway entry vectors (Invitrogen)). Epitope tags were inserted using Quick Change mutagenesis (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA). The concatenated constructs were modifications of constructs reported previously (Baur et al., 2006) and were generated using MultiSite Gateway Technology (Invitrogen).

Animals

All animal handling was in accordance with a protocol (#11029) approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of Yale University. Animal care and housing was provided by the Yale Animal Resource Center (YARC), in compliance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1996). Wild-type (C57BL/6J, Stock# 000664, RRID:IMSR_JAX:000664), the conditional Gabrd (Stock # 023836, RRID:IMSR_JAX:023836), the conditional Gabrg2 (Stock# 016830), and the transgenic CreERT mouse under the CAG promoter (Stock# 004682, RRID:IMSR_JAX:004682) were obtained from the Jackson Laboratory. The transgenic Cre mouse under the Gabra6 promoter (ID# 015966-UCD, RRID:MMRRC_015966-UCD) and the Gabra6 knockout (ID# 015968-UCD, RRID:MMRRC_015968-UCD) were obtained from MMRRC. Oocytes were harvested from Xenopus laevis (Product number: LM00535MX) obtained from Nasco.

Electrophysiology and surface expression using Xenopus laevis oocytes

Two-electrode voltage clamp (TEVC) recordings and measurements of surface expression were performed as described (Tomita et al., 2005; Tomita et al., 2004; Zerangue et al., 1999; Zhang et al., 2009). Briefly, cDNAs were subcloned into pGEM-HE vector and cRNA was transcribed in vitro using T7 mMessage mMachine (Ambion). TEVC analysis was performed 3–5 days after injection at room temperature in ND96 containing (in mM): 90 NaCl, 2 KCl, 1.8 CaCl2, 1 MgCl2, 5 HEPES (pH 7.5). The membrane potential was held at −40 mV. HA-tagged proteins at the cell surface were labeled with Rat anti-HA antibody (Roche) and horseradish-peroxidase (HRP) conjugated secondary antibody (GE Health), and measured with a chemiluminescence assay.

Blue native-PAGE and antibody shift

BN-PAGE was performed as described previously (Kim et al., 2010; Schägger et al., 1994). Briefly, membrane fractions from cRNA-injected oocytes or the mouse cerebellum were solubilized with 0.5% Triton X-100 or 1% Lauryl Maltose-neopentyl glycol, respectively. For the antibody shift assay, the samples were incubated with the indicated antibody for 2 hr. The solubilized proteins were then resolved on SDS-PAGE or BN-PAGE (4–12%), which was followed by western blot analysis. Molecular weights on BN-PAGE were determined using the NativeMark Unstained Protein Standard (Life Technologies). The gels were scanned using a scanner (EPSON PERFECTION 4490 PHOTO) at a resolution of 600 dpi. Scanned images were cropped and assembled on Illustrator (Adobe) for printing without any further adjustment. For quantification, each gel was run with a series of diluted samples to generate a standard curve for each protein detected by western blotting, and signal intensity of each band was measured using ImageJ (NIH) and quantified with the standard curve.

Cerebellar granule cell culture

Primary cultured cerebellar granule cells were prepared as described (Zhang et al., 2009). Briefly, P7 mice were anesthetized on ice and decapitated. Cerebella were dissected, treated with trypsin, and cells were plated on poly-D-lysin (PDL) treated glass coverslips at a density of ~1×106 cells/cm2 and grown in a humidified incubator at 37°C, 5% CO2. Neurons were treated with 4-hydroxytamoxifen from DIV1.5 to DIV3 (400 nM, Sigma).

Immunohistochemistry

Adult mice were deeply anesthetized with pentobarbitol (100 mg/kg) and perfused transcardially with 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer pH 7.4. After post-fixation, 30–40 μm sections were prepared using a vibratome (Leica). Sections were incubated with 1 mg/ml pepsin (DAKO) in 0.2 N HCl for 3–10 min at 37°C and washed with PBS, stained with appropriate antibodies and imaged by confocal microscopy (Zeiss 710) (Straub et al., 2011). Image quantification was performed using ImageJ.

Quantification of co-localization was performed using Mander’s coefficient analysis through the JACoP plugin in ImageJ (Bolte and Cordelières, 2006).

Cerebellar slice synaptic electrophysiology

Mice (P25-P35) were deeply anesthetized with isoflurane and euthanized by decapitation. Brains were rapidly extracted and transferred to ice cold artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF, containing (in mM):120 NaCl, 2 KCl, 2 CaCl2, 1.2 MgSO4, 1.2 KH2PO4, 26 NaHCO3, and 11 glucose; equilibrated with 95% O2, 5% CO2). Sagittal cerebellar sections (200 μm) were prepared using a vibratome (Leica). Granule cells were identified visually using an upright microscope (Olympus), and recordings were performed in oxygenated ACSF at room temperature. Patch pipets had a resistance of 5–10 MΩ and were filled with an internal solution containing the following (in mM): 81 CsSO4, 4 NaCl, 2 MgSO4, 0.02 CaCl2, 0.1 BAPTA, 15 HEPES, 15 Dextrose, 3 Mg-ATP, 0.1 Na-GTP (pH 7.2, adjusted with CsOH). To isolate GABAAR mediated spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs), AP-5 (100 µM) and CNQX (20 µM) were added to the external solution. sIPSCs were recorded from cerebellar granule cells in whole-cell configuration, using a Multiclamp 700B amplifier (Axon Instruments), at a holding potential of −10 mV. In these conditions, sIPSCs manifested as outward current. To confirm that sIPSCs were GABAAR-mediated, 100 µM picrotoxin was applied to the external solution after each recording. Online data acquisitions were performed using the Clampex program (Axon Instruments). Signals were filtered at 2 kHz and digitized at 25 kHz. Offline analysis was performed using IgorPro (WaveMetrics, Inc, Lake Oswego, OR, USA) and Mini Analysis (http://www.synaptosoft.com, Decatur, GA, USA). For quantification of amplitude and average traces, individual events were averaged. For quantification of frequency, events from two to four neurons were divided into bins (n = 4), and average values from each bin were measured. Reported values are the average of averages from each bin. All chemicals were obtained from Tocris Cookson or Sigma.

Statistical analysis

Quantification and statistical details of experiments can be found in the figure legends or Method Details section. All data are given as mean ± s.e.m. Statistical significance between means was calculated using Student’s t test. The number of independent experiments is indicated in each figure legend.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Pietro De Camilli, Angus Nairn, Peter Aronson, Michael Higley, Houqing Yu, Ania Puszynska and members of the Tomita lab for helpful discussions. We thank Dr. Erwin Sigel for original GABAAR concatenated constructs, Dr. Janet L Fisher for GABAAR α6 cDNA, Dr. Louis Reichardt for sharing transgenic Cre mice under the Gabra6 promoter through the MMRRC, Dr. Bernhard Luscher and Dr. Jamie Maguire for conditional γ2 mice and δ mice, respectively, through the Jackson laboratory. The monoclonal antibodies were obtained from the University of California Davis/National Institutes of Health NeuroMab Facility (NIH U24NS050606). ST is supported by NIH MH077939, MH104984 and Yale University, JSM is supported by NIH F30 MH099742 and the NIH T32GM007205, TY is supported by the Uehara Memorial Foundation, and NHC is supported by NIH F30 MH113299, CTSA TL1TR000141 and NIH/NIGMS T32 GM007205.

Funding Statement

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.

Contributor Information

Susumu Tomita, Email: susumu.tomita@yale.edu.

Mary B Kennedy, California Institute of Technology, United States.

Funding Information

This paper was supported by the following grants:

  • NIH Clinical Center F30 MH099742 to James S Martenson.

  • NIH Clinical Center GM007205 to James S Martenson, Nashid H Chaudhury.

  • NIH Clinical Center T32GM007205 to James S Martenson.

  • NIH Clinical Center T32 GM007205 to Tokiwa Yamasaki.

  • NIH Clinical Center TL1TR000141 to Nashid H Chaudhury.

  • NIH Clinical Center F30MH113299 to Nashid H Chaudhury.

  • NIH Clinical Center MH077939 to Susumu Tomita.

  • NIH Office of the Director MH104984 to Susumu Tomita.

Additional information

Competing interests

No competing interests declared.

Author contributions

Data curation, Formal analysis, Validation, Visualization, Methodology, Writing—review and editing.

Data curation, Formal analysis, Validation, Visualization, Methodology.

Data curation, Formal analysis, Validation, Visualization, Methodology.

Data curation, Formal analysis, Validation, Methodology.

Conceptualization, Resources, Supervision, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Writing—original draft, Writing—review and editing.

Ethics

Animal experimentation: All animal handling was in accordance with a protocol (#11029) approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of Yale University. Animal care and housing was provided by the Yale Animal Resource Center (YARC), in compliance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1996).

Additional files

Transparent reporting form

References

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Decision letter

Editor: Mary B Kennedy1

In the interests of transparency, eLife publishes the most substantive revision requests and the accompanying author responses.

Thank you for submitting your article "Assembly rules for GABAA receptor complexes in the brain" for consideration by eLife. Your article has been reviewed by three peer reviewers, one of whom is a member of our Board of Reviewing Editors and the evaluation has been overseen by the Reviewing Editor and Eve Marder as the Senior Editor. The following individual involved in review of your submission has agreed to reveal her identity: Mary B Kennedy (Reviewer #1).

The reviewers have discussed the reviews with one another and the Reviewing Editor has drafted this decision to help you prepare a revised submission.

Summary:

The subunit composition of GABA receptors dictates the subcellular localization and properties of the receptors. Only a few of the theoretically possible subunit combinations exist in the brain, but it is largely unresolved how the selection of the receptor components is regulated. The manuscript by Martenson et al., tackles this important question. The authors analyzed both recombinant and native GABAA receptor complexes by blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and antibody-shift assays to unravel which subunits can assemble into a receptor, which subunits exclude each other and which subunits are critical for forming a synaptic complex. They substantiated their findings in cerebellar granule cells genetically manipulated to lack specific receptor subunits. Based on the results, the authors put forward three "assembly rules" for subunits of GABA-A receptors into pentamers with associated auxiliary subunits, that help to explain segregation of subunits between synaptic (phasic inhibition) and extrasynaptic (tonic inhibition) localizations. The conclusions represent a significant and important advance in understanding the assembly of inhibitory receptor complexes. The experiments are logically designed and support the conclusions. However, there are deficits in the analysis of the data and its presentation that must be corrected before publication in eLife.

Essential revisions:

1) The information provided about methods, replication, and statistics in the figure legends and/or methods section is inadequate in many respects. Each figure legend should list the number of times each experiment was repeated, and a measure of the agreement between repetitions. This is particularly lacking in the methods and legends for figures showing results of BN-PAGE. The methods provide only the general statement that all experiments were replicated. The number of replications should be listed for each part of each experimental figure. For example, the methods do not state, nor do earlier cited papers, how the gels were scanned and how the images were processed. What was the make and model of the scanner? What software was used to adjust the images for printing and to quantify the images?

2) In Figure 2, an asterisk marks a "non-specific band". The figure should state the source of the non-specific band. Was it present in a blot of secondary alone? How do the authors know that it is "non-specific?"

3) It is well established that γ2 is essential for the synaptic localization of GABAA receptors. Three of the authors of the current manuscript contributed to a 2017 publication identifying GARLHs as GABAA receptor components that link the core GABAA receptor to NL2 at inhibitory synapses (Yamasaki et al., 2017). Within the earlier study, it was shown that γ2 was required to bridge GABAA receptors and GARLHs/NL2 upon heterologous expression. In the current work the authors refer to this finding and show that most of the GARLHed complexes in the cerebellum contain γ2 and that a deletion of γ2 in cerebellar granule cells in culture eliminated incorporation of α1 and β2/3 into GARLHed complexes. Furthermore, using γ2 GC-KO mice they provide evidence that γ2 is essential for the synaptic localization of GABAA receptors in cerebellar granule cells. However, the γ2 GC-KO mice have been used in the previous study too, and a strongly reduced expression of LH4 and NL2 in cerebellar extracts and of LH4, NL2 and α1 in glomerular postsynapse-enriched fractions has been reported (Yamasaki et al., 2017). The current manuscript should refer to these results as well, e.g. in the sections describing the experiments presented in Figures 3 and 4. The expression levels of LH4 and NL2 in cerebellar granule cell cultures with and without γ2 (Figure 3C) need to be determined and shown. The authors should point out that their conclusion that the association of native GABAA receptors with GARLHs requires γ2 is based on a combination of findings described in the current work and the previous publication (Yamasaki et al., 2017).

4) The authors show that intrinsic signals in α1 and α6 prevent their incorporation into the same receptor. The authors discuss that it is unclear how these intrinsic signals function since α1 and α6 are separated by β and δ, respectively, within the pentamer. The conclusion that intrinsic properties prevent the two subunits from assembling together is justified. However, to get more insight into the intrinsic signals it would be useful to know if the authors have tried to narrow down regions within α1 and α6 that are involved in the segregation of the subunits.

The authors provide evidence that γ2 can assemble into α6-containing receptors in the absence of δ and connect them with synapses suggesting that the strength of inhibitory synapses could be regulated by the level of δ expression. It would also be interesting to include data as to whether the effect of δ is specific for α6-containing receptors or whether δ is able to assemble into α1-containing receptors in the absence of γ2. These two sets of experiments will not be required for publication, but the paper would be more interesting if the authors can include such information.

5) Figure 4B and 4F are not quantified. From the images shown in 4B, I had a hard time seeing the changes of alpha1 localization in the gamma2 KO. The Ephys phenotype of the KO is very strong as shown in Figure 4C. The synaptic signals in Figure 4B and 4F should be quantified. The same is true for the glomerular synaptic images in Figure 5.

eLife. 2017 Aug 17;6:e27443. doi: 10.7554/eLife.27443.sa2

Author response

Essential revisions:

1) The information provided about methods, replication, and statistics in the figure legends and/or methods section is inadequate in many respects. Each figure legend should list the number of times each experiment was repeated, and a measure of the agreement between repetitions. This is particularly lacking in the methods and legends for figures showing results of BN-PAGE. The methods provide only the general statement that all experiments were replicated. The number of replications should be listed for each part of each experimental figure. For example, the methods do not state, nor do earlier cited papers, how the gels were scanned and how the images were processed. What was the make and model of the scanner? What software was used to adjust the images for printing and to quantify the images?

We apologize that information about methods, replication, and statistics was inadequate. We now provided all the information in detail as below.

We added the number of times each experiment was independently repeated. Furthermore, we emphasized that each figure is representative of the independent replicates, in order to indicate a high measure of agreement between repetitions in each figure legend.

We now state, “The gels were scanned using a scanner (EPSON PERFECTION 4490 PHOTO) at a resolution of 600 dpi. Scanned images were cropped and assembled on Illustrator (Adobe) for printing without any further adjustment. For quantification, each gel was run with a series of diluted samples to generate a standard curve for each protein detected by western blotting, and signal intensity of each band was measured using ImageJ (NIH) and quantified with the standard curve.”

2) In Figure 2, an asterisk marks a "non-specific band". The figure should state the source of the non-specific band. Was it present in a blot of secondary alone? How do the authors know that it is "non-specific?"

We apologize for not describing this. We consistently observe this band around 100 kDa when analyzing oocyte extracts using SDS-PAGE and western blotting, regardless of the primary antibody used. Thus, the asterisk-marked band reflects an endogenous oocyte protein, and not a heterologously expressed GABAAR subunit. And we called the band a “non-specific band”. We clarified this point.

3) It is well established that γ2 is essential for the synaptic localization of GABAA receptors. Three of the authors of the current manuscript contributed to a 2017 publication identifying GARLHs as GABAA receptor components that link the core GABAA receptor to NL2 at inhibitory synapses (Yamasaki et al., 2017). Within the earlier study, it was shown that γ2 was required to bridge GABAA receptors and GARLHs/NL2 upon heterologous expression. In the current work the authors refer to this finding and show that most of the GARLHed complexes in the cerebellum contain γ2 and that a deletion of γ2 in cerebellar granule cells in culture eliminated incorporation of α1 and β2/3 into GARLHed complexes. Furthermore, using γ2 GC-KO mice they provide evidence that γ2 is essential for the synaptic localization of GABAA receptors in cerebellar granule cells. However, the γ2 GC-KO mice have been used in the previous study too, and a strongly reduced expression of LH4 and NL2 in cerebellar extracts and of LH4, NL2 and α1 in glomerular postsynapse-enriched fractions has been reported (Yamasaki et al., 2017).

We wish to thank the reviewers for their careful reading of our previous manuscript (Yamasaki et al., 2017).

The current manuscript should refer to these results as well, e.g. in the sections describing the experiments presented in Figures 3 and 4.

We now refer to the previous results in Yamasaki et al., 2017 in Figures 3 and 4.

The expression levels of LH4 and NL2 in cerebellar granule cell cultures with and without γ2 (Figure 3C) need to be determined and shown.

We are willing to do this experiment, which requires P7 pups homozygous for the conditional γ2 allele and carrying a CreERT transgene. Unfortunately, despite multiple attempts at breeding, we have not yet obtained pups of the required genotype, and thus we will not be able to provide this result within the two-month window for revision. We can perform this experiment immediately as soon as the pups become available.

That said, we feel that the information this experiment would provide is not necessary to draw our current conclusion. The novelty of this figure is the loss of the 720 kDa complex in cerebellar granule cell cultures lacking γ2. This is the first demonstration that γ2 is required for the formation of the 720 kDa complex in vivo. Because the expression levels of LH4 and NL2 in cerebella from adult γ2 knockout mice were already evaluated in Yamasaki et al., 2017, we feel our conclusions are fully supported without the additional experiments requested. Thank you for considering our situation.

The authors should point out that their conclusion that the association of native GABAA receptors with GARLHs requires γ2 is based on a combination of findings described in the current work and the previous publication (Yamasaki et al., 2017).

We now point this out clearly by stating, “Combining our new finding that γ2 is required in vivo for assembling the native GABAAR complex (Figure 3C) with the finding from Yamasaki et al., 2017 that γ2 is required for reconstituting the native GABAAR complex in a heterologous system, we conclude that the association of native GABAARs with GARLHs requires γ2.”

4) The authors show that intrinsic signals in α1 and α6 prevent their incorporation into the same receptor. The authors discuss that it is unclear how these intrinsic signals function since α1 and α6 are separated by β and δ, respectively, within the pentamer. The conclusion that intrinsic properties prevent the two subunits from assembling together is justified. However, to get more insight into the intrinsic signals it would be useful to know if the authors have tried to narrow down regions within α1 and α6 that are involved in the segregation of the subunits.

We have not tried to identify the intrinsic signal domains in α1 and α6. Mapping the regions within α1 and α6 that are involved in the segregation of the subunits using chimeric proteins would provide valuable information. However, interpretations of results using chimeric proteins would be difficult without a high-resolution atomic structure of this complex, because mutations might induce global changes in structure that may cause disruption of the intrinsic signal indirectly. Thus, we left a detailed dissection of the segregation of α1 and α6 for future studies.

The authors provide evidence that γ2 can assemble into α6-containing receptors in the absence of δ and connect them with synapses suggesting that the strength of inhibitory synapses could be regulated by the level of δ expression. It would also be interesting to include data as to whether the effect of δ is specific for α6-containing receptors or whether δ is able to assemble into α1-containing receptors in the absence of γ2. These two sets of experiments will not be required for publication, but the paper would be more interesting if the authors can include such information.

Thank you for this excellent suggestion. Thank you also for recognizing that, although the experiment would provide valuable information, it is not essential for our main argument. To assess the ability of α1 and δ to interact in the absence of γ2, the best experiment would be an antibody shift analysis using anti-α1 and anti-δ antibodies for shift and western blotting, respectively. Unfortunately, the combination of anti-α1 and anti-δ antibodies showed significant background, a common issue in antibody shift assays on BN-PAGE. Because the result was inconclusive, we did not include it.

5) Figure 4B and 4F are not quantified. From the images shown in 4B, I had a hard time seeing the changes of alpha1 localization in the gamma2 KO. The Ephys phenotype of the KO is very strong as shown in Figure 4C. The synaptic signals in Figure 4B and 4F should be quantified.

Thank you for this feedback. We have revised the figure according to your comments, and believe the new figure is a substantial improvement over the original. To quantify the images in Figure 4 in the same way used for Figure 5, we performed similar experiments and quantified staining usingγ2 KO and Cre-negative control littermates. This result showed a reduction in the co-localization of α1 (Figure 4B) and gephyrin (Figure 4F) with VGAT in γ2 GC-KO, suggesting a reduction in synaptic α1 and gephyrin in γ2 KO. In addition, α1 colocalized more frequently with the glomeruli marker GluN1 in the cerebellar granular layer of γ2 GC-KO, whereas gephyrin co-localization with GluN1 was reduced. This result suggests that, in γ2 GC-KO, α1 redistributes diffusely on the cerebellar glomeruli, whereas gephyrin partly redistributes outside the glomeruli.

The same is true for the glomerular synaptic images in Figure 5.

Supplemented comment (provided after an author query): "In Figure 5, the intensity of a6 signal is reduced in the delta KO. Is that a real effect? Does this affect the colocalization analysis? From these images, it appears that the amount of a6 receptors apposing the VGAT positive presynaptic terminals is similar if not reduced in the delta KO. If so, how can we explain the increase in IPSC frequency in the KO?"

The concern is that the absolute quantity of alpha6 might be reduced. More explanation and/or absolute quantification of alpha6 staining would help.

In Figure 5, the intensity of a6 signal is reduced in the delta KO. Is that a real effect?

Thank you for pointing this out, and sorry that we did not clarify in detail. It is difficult to meaningfully quantify absolute signal intensity between sections because a standard curve is unavailable for immunohistochemistry.

Nonetheless, we saw the weaker α6 signal consistently in three different δ GC-KO animals by immunohistochemistry (Figure 5A is representative), and measured a significant decrease in α6 levels in δ GCKO animals by SDS-PAGE and western blotting (Figure 6C), so we believe the effect is real.

Does this affect the colocalization analysis?

No. The reduction in α6 signal does not affect our colocalization analysis using the Mander’s colocalization coefficient (Dunn, Kamocka, and McDonald, 2011; Bolte and Cordelieres, 2006). Our conclusion from Figure 6 is that a greater portion of α6 is concentrated at synapses in δ GC-KO relative to controls. This conclusion is independent of the absolute expression level of α6. Perhaps, the label on Y-axis of this figure in the original manuscript was not clear. We revised the Y-axis label as “Fraction of α6 colocalized with VGAT.”

From these images, it appears that the amount of a6 receptors apposing the VGAT positive presynaptic terminals is similar if not reduced in the delta KO. If so, how can we explain the increase in IPSC frequency in the KO?

As stated above, it is difficult to meaningfully quantify absolute signal intensity between sections because a standard curve is unavailable for immunohistochemistry. Thus, we are not able to compare the absolute signal intensity of α6 colocalized with VGAT between control and δ GC-KO mice in a confident manner. Instead, we used the Mander’s colocalization coefficient (Dunn, Kamocka, and McDonald, 2011; Bolte and Cordelieres, 2006) to assess the fraction of total α6 signal colocalized with VGAT. Importantly, no method is available to derive IPSC frequency from synaptic clustering detected by immunohistochemistry. The point of this figure is that α6 localizes to synapses more than extrasynaptic sites in δ GC-KO mice. This finding is totally novel.

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