Synaptic physiology: Neuroligin and neurexin go retro.

摘要

Acetylcholine (ACh) release at the Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular junction is inhibited by a retrograde signal that is induced by inactivation of microRNA 1, but the nature of the signal was unknown. The authors show that retrograde signalling requires presynaptic expression of neuroligin 1 (nlgl) and postsynaptic expression of neurexin 1 (nrxl).The retrograde signal inhibits exocytosis of distal synaptic vesicles, causing ACh release to be fast- and short-lasting rather than slow and prolonged. Mutations in NLC and NRX have been associated with autism, suggesting that prolonged synaptic responses may contribute to the autism phenotype.