Loss of SynDIG4/PRRT1 alters distribution of AMPA receptors in Rab4- and Rab11-positive endosomes and impairs basal AMPA receptor recycling

The transmembrane protein Synapse Differentiation Induced Gene 4 (SynDIG4) functions as an auxiliary factor of AMPA receptors (AMPARs) and plays a critical role in excitatory synaptic plasticity as well as hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. Mice lacking SynDIG4 have reduced surface expressio...

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Main Authors: Chun-Wei He, Elva Díaz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1568908/full
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author Chun-Wei He
Elva Díaz
author_facet Chun-Wei He
Elva Díaz
author_sort Chun-Wei He
collection DOAJ
description The transmembrane protein Synapse Differentiation Induced Gene 4 (SynDIG4) functions as an auxiliary factor of AMPA receptors (AMPARs) and plays a critical role in excitatory synaptic plasticity as well as hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. Mice lacking SynDIG4 have reduced surface expression of GluA1 and GluA2 and are impaired in single tetanus-induced long-term potentiation and NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-dependent long-term depression. These findings suggest that SynDIG4 may play an important role in regulating AMPAR distribution through intracellular trafficking mechanisms; however, the precise roles by which SynDIG4 governs AMPAR distribution remain unclear. Here, we characterized the endocytosis and recycling of GluA1-containing AMPARs under basal conditions. We did not observe any change in baseline endocytosis; however, we did observe a significant decrease in recycling of GluA1-containing AMPARs in cultured hippocampal neurons from mice lacking SynDIG4. This resulted in a significant increase in the levels of internal GluA1 and GluA2, along with greater colocalization of these subunits with Rab4-positive recycling endosomes. Notably, the overlap between Rab4-positive and Rab11-positive vesicles was elevated in hippocampal neurons lacking SynDIG4, suggesting an impairment in the trafficking between these compartments. Furthermore, our findings revealed a reduction in surface GluA1 within synaptic regions of hippocampal neurons lacking SynDIG4. Collectively, these results indicate that SynDIG4 regulates the distribution of GluA1-containing AMPARs via the Rab4-dependent endosomal recycling pathway, thereby maintaining AMPAR levels at synaptic regions under baseline conditions. This regulatory function of SynDIG4 may contribute to the deficits in GluA1-dependent synaptic plasticity and impairment of hippocampal-dependent behaviors observed in SynDIG4 deficient mice.
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spelling doaj-art-2a89d0487b47472bbe7426e05c47c69d2025-08-20T02:33:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-05-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15689081568908Loss of SynDIG4/PRRT1 alters distribution of AMPA receptors in Rab4- and Rab11-positive endosomes and impairs basal AMPA receptor recyclingChun-Wei HeElva DíazThe transmembrane protein Synapse Differentiation Induced Gene 4 (SynDIG4) functions as an auxiliary factor of AMPA receptors (AMPARs) and plays a critical role in excitatory synaptic plasticity as well as hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. Mice lacking SynDIG4 have reduced surface expression of GluA1 and GluA2 and are impaired in single tetanus-induced long-term potentiation and NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-dependent long-term depression. These findings suggest that SynDIG4 may play an important role in regulating AMPAR distribution through intracellular trafficking mechanisms; however, the precise roles by which SynDIG4 governs AMPAR distribution remain unclear. Here, we characterized the endocytosis and recycling of GluA1-containing AMPARs under basal conditions. We did not observe any change in baseline endocytosis; however, we did observe a significant decrease in recycling of GluA1-containing AMPARs in cultured hippocampal neurons from mice lacking SynDIG4. This resulted in a significant increase in the levels of internal GluA1 and GluA2, along with greater colocalization of these subunits with Rab4-positive recycling endosomes. Notably, the overlap between Rab4-positive and Rab11-positive vesicles was elevated in hippocampal neurons lacking SynDIG4, suggesting an impairment in the trafficking between these compartments. Furthermore, our findings revealed a reduction in surface GluA1 within synaptic regions of hippocampal neurons lacking SynDIG4. Collectively, these results indicate that SynDIG4 regulates the distribution of GluA1-containing AMPARs via the Rab4-dependent endosomal recycling pathway, thereby maintaining AMPAR levels at synaptic regions under baseline conditions. This regulatory function of SynDIG4 may contribute to the deficits in GluA1-dependent synaptic plasticity and impairment of hippocampal-dependent behaviors observed in SynDIG4 deficient mice.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1568908/fullSynDIG4PRRT1AMPA receptorendosomesrecyclingRab4
spellingShingle Chun-Wei He
Elva Díaz
Loss of SynDIG4/PRRT1 alters distribution of AMPA receptors in Rab4- and Rab11-positive endosomes and impairs basal AMPA receptor recycling
Frontiers in Pharmacology
SynDIG4
PRRT1
AMPA receptor
endosomes
recycling
Rab4
title Loss of SynDIG4/PRRT1 alters distribution of AMPA receptors in Rab4- and Rab11-positive endosomes and impairs basal AMPA receptor recycling
title_full Loss of SynDIG4/PRRT1 alters distribution of AMPA receptors in Rab4- and Rab11-positive endosomes and impairs basal AMPA receptor recycling
title_fullStr Loss of SynDIG4/PRRT1 alters distribution of AMPA receptors in Rab4- and Rab11-positive endosomes and impairs basal AMPA receptor recycling
title_full_unstemmed Loss of SynDIG4/PRRT1 alters distribution of AMPA receptors in Rab4- and Rab11-positive endosomes and impairs basal AMPA receptor recycling
title_short Loss of SynDIG4/PRRT1 alters distribution of AMPA receptors in Rab4- and Rab11-positive endosomes and impairs basal AMPA receptor recycling
title_sort loss of syndig4 prrt1 alters distribution of ampa receptors in rab4 and rab11 positive endosomes and impairs basal ampa receptor recycling
topic SynDIG4
PRRT1
AMPA receptor
endosomes
recycling
Rab4
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1568908/full
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AT elvadiaz lossofsyndig4prrt1altersdistributionofampareceptorsinrab4andrab11positiveendosomesandimpairsbasalampareceptorrecycling