Differential Regulation of Excitatory vs Inhibitory Synaptic Release by Complexin/CPX-1 and CAPS/UNC-31 at the C. elegans Neuromuscular Junctions

Abstract

The excitation and inhibition (E/I) balance at neuromuscular junctions plays a crucial role in coordinating animal motor behavior. Prominent synaptic vesicle secretory regulatory proteins, specifically complexin and CAPS (Calcium-dependent Activator Protein for Secretion), have not garnered sufficient attention for E/I balance regulation. Here, we investigate the roles of complexin/CPX-1 and CAPS/UNC-31 in excitatory vs inhibitory synapses of C. elegans neuromuscular junctions. In our study, cpx-1 null mutants displayed remarkable reduction evoked release in both excitatory and inhibitory synapses. Intriguingly, these mutants exhibited an enhanced level of spontaneous release, particularly within the context of excitatory synapse. This enhancement aligns with its "clamp" role that preventing SV from fusing with the presynaptic membrane. Additionally, a clamping-specific knockin mutant cpx-1({Delta}12), which displayed no alterations in evoked release at either type of synapse, also revealed a biased substantial increase in excitatory spontaneous release. In contrast, unc-31 null mutation, with normal spontaneous release, led to a more pronounced decreased evoked release in the excitatory synapse independent of dense-core vesicle regulation. Intriguingly, we found that the enhanced excitatory spontaneous release observed in cpx-1 mutants was abolished by unc-31 in a Ca2+-dependent manner, implying that UNC-31 is essential for maintaining a high level of spontaneous fusion events. Collectively, our findings unveil a distinct regulatory pattern governing excitatory and inhibitory synaptic release, orchestrated by the interplay of CPX-1 and UNC-31. Notably, we uncover an unforeseen role of UNC-31 in influencing CPX-1s "clamp" function, further adding complexity to the neural dynamics, which may underlie complex behavioral phenotypes observed in C. elegans.