RIM3γ and RIM4γ are key regulators of neuronal arborization.

The large isoforms of the Rab3 interacting molecule (RIM) family, RIM1α/ß and RIM2α/ß, have been shown to be centrally involved in mediating presynaptic active zone function. The RIM protein family contains two additional small isoforms, RIM3γ and RIM4γ, which are composed only of the RIM-specific C-terminal C2B domain and varying N-terminal sequences and whose function remains to be elucidated. Here, we report that both, RIM3γ and RIM4γ, play an essential role for the development of neuronal arborization and of dendritic spines independent of synaptic function. γ-RIM knock-down in rat primary neuronal cultures and in vivo resulted in a drastic reduction in the complexity of neuronal arborization, affecting both axonal and dendritic outgrowth, independent of the time point of γ-RIM downregulation during dendrite development. Rescue experiments revealed that the phenotype is caused by a function common to both γ-RIMs. These findings indicate that γ-RIMs are involved in cell biological functions distinct from the regulation of synaptic vesicle exocytosis and play a role in the molecular mechanisms controlling the establishment of dendritic complexity and axonal outgrowth.

Analyses of the spatiotemporal expression and subcellular localization of liprin-α proteins.

The members of the Liprin-α protein family, Liprin-α1-4, are scaffolding proteins that play important roles in the regulation of synapse assembly and maturation, vesicular trafficking, and cell motility. Recent evidence suggests that despite their high degree of homology, the four isoforms can be differentially regulated and fulfill diverging functions. However, to date their precise regional and subcellular distribution has remained elusive. Here, we examine the spatiotemporal expression patterns of Liprins-α in the rodent by using in situ hybridization, immunoblotting, and immunochemistry of primary cells as well as brain and retina sections. We show that Liprin-α1-4 mRNA and protein are widely expressed throughout the developing and adult central nervous system, with Liprin-α2 and -α3 being the major Liprin-α isoforms in the brain. Our data show that the four Liprin-α proteins differ in their regional distribution, in particular in the hippocampus, the cerebellum, and the olfactory bulb. Liprin-α1 exhibits a unique spatiotemporal expression pattern as its levels decrease during synaptogenesis, and it is the only Liprin-α with substantial non-neuronal expression. Immunocytochemistry of cultured primary neurons with pre- and postsynaptic marker proteins shows all four Liprins-α to be present at synapses and nonsynaptic sites to varying degrees. Together, these results show that neurons in different brain regions express a distinct complement of Liprin-α proteins.

RIM proteins and their role in synapse function.

Active zones are specialized areas of the plasma membrane in the presynaptic nerve terminal that mediate neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity. The multidomain proteins RIM1 and RIM2 are integral components of the cytomatrix at the active zone, interacting with most other active zone-enriched proteins as well as synaptic vesicle proteins. In the brain, RIMs are present in multiple isoforms (alpha, beta, gamma) diverging in their structural composition, which mediate overlapping and distinct functions. Here, we summarize recent findings about the specific roles of the various RIM isoforms in basic synaptic vesicle release as well as long- and short-term presynaptic plasticity.

Presence of human herpes virus 6 DNA exclusively in temporal lobe epilepsy brain tissue of patients with history of encephalitis.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is frequently associated with mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS). Many etiologic aspects of TLE are still unresolved. Here, we aimed to analyze the presence of human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) DNA in distinct TLE pathologies. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in surgical tissue from 38 pharmaco-resistant TLE patients and 10 autopsy controls revealed HHV-6 DNA in 55.6% of the TLE patients with a history of encephalitis, involving MTS and gliotic hippocampi without substantial neurodegeneration, but not in lesion-associated TLE or nonlesional MTS with or without a history of complex febrile seizures (CFS). HHV-6 protein was present in only one patient's tissue. Our data argue against HHV-6 as a major local pathogenetic factor in MTS hippocampi after CFS. The high detection rate of HHV-6 DNA suggests a potential pathogenetic role of HHV-6 in TLE patients with a history of encephalitis.

Structure and evolution of RIM-BP genes: identification of a novel family member.

RIM-binding proteins (RIM-BPs) were identified as binding partners of the presynaptic active zone proteins RIMs as well as for voltage-gated Ca(2+)-channels. They were suggested to form a functional link between the synaptic-vesicle fusion apparatus and Ca(2+)-channels. Here we show that the RIM-BP gene family diversified in different stages during evolution, but retained their unique domain structure. While invertebrate genomes contain one, and vertebrates include at least two RIM-BPs, we identified an additional gene, RIM-BP3, which is exclusively expressed in mammals. RIM-BP3 is encoded by a single exon of which three copies are present in the human genome. All RIM-BP genes encode proteins with three SH3-domains and two to three fibronectin III repeats. The flanking regions diverge in size and sequence and are alternatively spliced in RIM-BP1 and -2. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR and in situ hybridization analyses revealed overlapping but distinct expression patterns throughout the brain for RIM-BP1 and -2, while RIM-BP3 was detected at high levels outside the nervous system. The modular domain structure of RIM-BPs, their expression pattern and the conservative expansion during evolution shown here support their potential role as important molecular adaptors.

Redundant functions of RIM1alpha and RIM2alpha in Ca(2+)-triggered neurotransmitter release.

Alpha-RIMs (RIM1alpha and RIM2alpha) are multidomain active zone proteins of presynaptic terminals. Alpha-RIMs bind to Rab3 on synaptic vesicles and to Munc13 on the active zone via their N-terminal region, and interact with other synaptic proteins via their central and C-terminal regions. Although RIM1alpha has been well characterized, nothing is known about the function of RIM2alpha. We now show that RIM1alpha and RIM2alpha are expressed in overlapping but distinct patterns throughout the brain. To examine and compare their functions, we generated knockout mice lacking RIM2alpha, and crossed them with previously produced RIM1alpha knockout mice. We found that deletion of either RIM1alpha or RIM2alpha is not lethal, but ablation of both alpha-RIMs causes postnatal death. This lethality is not due to a loss of synapse structure or a developmental change, but to a defect in neurotransmitter release. Synapses without alpha-RIMs still contain active zones and release neurotransmitters, but are unable to mediate normal Ca(2+)-triggered release. Our data thus demonstrate that alpha-RIMs are not essential for synapse formation or synaptic exocytosis, but are required for normal Ca(2+)-triggering of exocytosis.