Neurexins (NRXN) are a family of presynaptic cell adhesion proteins that have roles in connecting neurons at the synapse. They are located mostly on the presynaptic membrane and contain a single transmembrane domain. The extracellular domain interacts with proteins in the synaptic cleft, most notably neuroligin, while the intracellular cytoplasmic portion interacts with proteins associated with exocytosis. Neurexin and neuroligin "shake hands," resulting in the connection between the two neurons and the production of a synapse. Neurexins mediate signaling across the synapse, and influence the properties of neural networks by synapse specificity. Neurexins were discovered as receptors for α-latrotoxin, a vertebrate-specific toxin in black widow spider venom that binds to presynaptic receptors and induces massive neurotransmitter release. In humans, alterations in genes encoding neurexins are implicated in autism and other cognitive diseases, such as Tourette syndrome and schizophrenia.
Structure In mammals, neurexin is encoded by three different genes (NRXN1, NRXN2, and NRXN3) each controlled by two different promoters, an upstream alpha (α) and a downstream beta (β), resulting in alpha-neurexins 1-3 (α-neurexins 1–3) and beta-neurexins 1-3 (β-neurexins 1–3). In addition, there are 5 sites of alternative splicing in α-neurexin, and 2 in β-neurexin. Together they provide for more than 2000 splice variants, suggesting a role of neurexin in determining synapse specificity. The encoded proteins are structurally similar to laminin, slit, and agrin, other proteins involved in axon guidance and synaptogenesis. α-Neurexins and β-neurexins have identical intracellular domains but different extracellular domains. The extracellular domain of α-neurexin is composed of three neurexin repeats which each contain LNS (laminin, neurexin, sex-hormone binding globulin) – EGF (epidermal growth factor) – LNS domains. N1α binds to a variety of ligands including neuroligins and GABA receptors, though neurons of every receptor type express neurexins. β-Neurexins are shorter versions of α-neurexins, containing only one LNS domain. β-Neurexins (located presynaptically) act as receptors for neuroligin (located postsynaptically). Additionally, β-Neurexin has also been found to play a role in angiogenesis. The C terminus of the short intracellular section of both types of neurexins binds to synaptotagmin and to the PDZ (postsynaptic density (PSD)-95/discs large/zona-occludens-1) domains of CASK and Mint. These interactions form connections between intracellular synaptic vesicles and fusion proteins. Thus neurexins play an important role in assembling presynaptic and postsynaptic machinery. Trans-synapse, the extracellular LNS domains have a functional region, the hyper-variable surface, formed by loops carrying 3 splice inserts. This region surrounds a coordinated Ca2+ ion and is the site of neuroligin binding, resulting in a neurexin-neuroligin Ca2+-dependent complex at the junction of chemical synapses.
Expression and function Neurexins are diffusely distributed in neurons and become concentrated at presynaptic terminals as neurons mature. They have also been found at pancreatic beta islet cells even though the function at this location has yet to be elucidated. There exists a trans-synaptic dialog between neurexin and neuroligin. This bi-directional trigger aids in the formation of synapses and is a key component to modifying the neuronal network. Over-expression of either of these proteins causes an increase in synapse forming sites, thus providing evidence that neurexin plays a functional role in synaptogenesis. Conversely, the blocking of β-neurexin interactions reduces the number of excitatory and inhibitory synapses. It is not clear how exactly neurexin promotes the formation of synapses. One possibility is that actin is polymerized on the tail end of β-neurexin, which traps and stabilizes accumulating synaptic vesicles. This forms a forward feeding cycle, where small clusters of β-neurexins recruit more β-neurexins and scaffolding proteins to form a large synaptic adhesive contact.
Neurexin Binding Partners
Neurexin-Neureoligin binding The different combinations of neurexin to neuroligin, and alternative splicing of neuroligin and neurexin genes, control binding between neuroligins and neurexins, adding to synapse specificity. Neurexins alone are capable of recruiting neuroligins in postsynaptic cells to a dendritic surface, resulting in clustered neurotransmitter receptors and other postsynaptic proteins and machinery. Their neuroligin partners can induce presynaptic terminals by recruiting neurexins. Synapse formation can therefore be triggered in either direction by these proteins. Neuroligins and neurexins can also regulate formation of glutamatergic (excitatory) synapses, and GABAergic (inhibitory) contacts using a neuroligin link. Regulating these contacts suggests neurexin-neuroligin binding could balance synaptic input, or maintain an optimal ratio of excitatory to inhibitory contacts.
Additional interacting partners
Dystroglycans Neurexins not only bind to neuroligin. Additional binding partners of neurexin are dystroglycan. Dystroglycan is Ca2+-dependent and binds preferentially to α-neurexins on LNS domains that lack splice inserts. In mice, a deletion of dystroglycan causes long-term potentiation impairment and developmental abnormalities similar to muscular dystrophy; however baseline synaptic transmission is normal.
Neuroexophilins
Neuroexophilins are also known to bind to neurexins and are present at the synaptic cleft but are not membrane bound. Neuroexophilins are Ca2+-independent and bind exclusively to α-neurexins on the second LNS domain. The increased startle responses and impaired motor coordination of neuroexophilin knockout mice indicates that neuroexophilins have a functional role in certain circuits.
Latrophilins Latrophilins are adhesion G protein-coupled receptors that reside on the postsynaptic membrane. Without latrophillins in mice a loss of excitatory synapses was experienced in pyramidal neurons. Latrophillins while in association with neurexin have been shown to act as postsynaptic recognition molecules for incoming axons.
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