A considerable amount of energy is expended following presynaptic activity to regenerate electrical polarization and maintain efficient release and recycling of neurotransmitter. Mitochondria are the major suppliers of neuronal energy, generating ATP via oxidative phosphorylation. However, the specific utilization of energy from cytosolic glycolysis rather than mitochondrial respiration at the presynaptic terminal during synaptic activity remains unclear and controversial. We use a synapse specialized for high-frequency transmission in mice, the calyx of Held, to test the sources of energy used to maintain energy during short activity bursts (<1 s) and sustained neurotransmission (30–150 s). We dissect the role of presynaptic glycolysis versus mitochondrial respiration by acutely and selectively blocking these ATP-generating pathways in a synaptic preparation where mitochondria and synaptic vesicles are prolific, under near-physiological conditions. Surprisingly, if either glycolysis or mitochondrial ATP production is intact, transmission during repetitive short bursts of activity is not affected. In slices from young animals before the onset of hearing, where the synapse is not yet fully specialized, both glycolytic and mitochondrial ATP production are required to support sustained, high-frequency neurotransmission. In mature synapses, sustained transmission relies exclusively on mitochondrial ATP production supported by bath lactate, but not glycolysis. At both ages, we observe that action potential propagation begins to fail before defects in synaptic vesicle recycling. Our data describe a specific metabolic profile to support high-frequency information transmission at the mature calyx of Held, shifting during postnatal synaptic maturation from glycolysis to rely on monocarboxylates as a fuel source. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We dissect the role of presynaptic glycolysis versus mitochondrial respiration in supporting high-frequency neurotransmission, by acutely blocking these ATP-generating pathways at a synapse tuned for high-frequency transmission. We find that massive energy expenditure is required to generate failure when only one pathway is inhibited. Action potential propagation is lost before impaired synaptic vesicle recycling. Synaptic transmission is exclusively dependent on oxidative phosphorylation in mature synapses, indicating presynaptic glycolysis may be dispensable for ATP maintenance.
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Mitochondrial ROS signaling during synaptic potentiation
Exacerbated emission of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from presynaptic mito- chondria is a well-studied hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Outside the context of pathology, the potential physiological role of mitochondrial ROS in presynaptic function and plasticity remains largely understudied. Here, we investigated this potential role by combining optogenetic techniques, electrophysiological recordings, confocal microscopy, and a well-established protocol for induction and mea- surement of synaptic potentiation in drosophila neuromuscular preparations. We observed an expected increase in spontaneous miniature excitatory junction potentials (mEJP), accompanied by a temporary increase in ROS emission seen by confocal imaging of presynaptic motor neuron mitochondria expressing roGFP2-Orp1. Furthermore, we were able to replicate this increase in mEJP frequency after optogenetic induction of ROS emission from pre-synaptic mito- chondria expressing mito-killer red. These preliminary but exiting results may indicate a potential role of mitochondrial ROS signaling in synaptic potentia- tion. Further studies will inquire about this role, as well as the potential signaling targets of mitochondrial ROS in the presynaptic structure of drosophila neuromuscular junctions.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2019021
- PAR ID:
- 10344016
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Biophysical journal
- Volume:
- 121
- Issue:
- 3
- ISSN:
- 1542-0086
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 508a
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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