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Article
Stoichiometry of Scaffold Complexes in Living Neurons - DLC2 as a Dimerization Engine for GKAP
Journal of Cell Science
  • Enora Moutin
  • Vincent Compan
  • Fabrice Raynaud
  • Caroline Clerté
  • Nathalie Bouquier
  • Gilles Labesse
  • Matthew L. Ferguson, Boise State University
  • Laurent Fagni
  • Catherine A. Royer, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Julie Perroy, Institut de génomique Fonctionnelle
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-15-2014
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jcs.145748
Disciplines
Abstract

Quantitative spatio-temporal characterization of protein interactions in living cells remains a major challenge facing modern biology. We have investigated in living neurons the spatial dependence of the stoichiometry of interactions between two core proteins of the NMDA receptor-associated scaffolding complex, GKAP and DLC2, using a novel variation of Fluorescence Fluctuation Microscopy called two-photon scanning Number and Brightness (sN&B). We found that dimerization of DLC2 was required for its interaction with GKAP, which in turn potentiated GKAP self-association. In dendritic shaft, the DLC2-GKAP hetero-oligomeric complexes were composed mainly of 2 DLC2 and 2 GKAP monomers, while in spines, the hetero-complexes were much larger, with an average of ∼16 DLC2 and ∼13 GKAP. Disruption of the GKAP-DLC2 interaction strongly destabilized the oligomers, decreasing the spine-preferential localization of GKAP and inhibiting NMDA receptor activity. Hence, DLC2 serves a hub function in the control of glutamatergic transmission via ordering of GKAP-containing complexes in dendritic spines. Beyond illuminating the role of DLC2–GKAP interactions in glutamergic signalling, these data underscore the power of the sN&B approach for quantitative spatio-temporal imaging of other important protein complexes.

Citation Information
Enora Moutin, Vincent Compan, Fabrice Raynaud, Caroline Clerté, et al.. "Stoichiometry of Scaffold Complexes in Living Neurons - DLC2 as a Dimerization Engine for GKAP" Journal of Cell Science (2014)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/matthew_ferguson/14/