Complementary roles of the neuron-enriched endosomal proteins NEEP21 and calcyon in neuronal vesicle trafficking

Nagendran Muthusamy, Yong Jun Chen, Dong Min Yin, Lin Mei, Clare Bergson

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Understanding mechanisms governing the trafficking of transmembrane (TM) cargoes to synapses and other specialized membranes in neurons represents a long-standing challenge in cell biology. Investigation of the neuron-enriched endosomal protein of 21 kDa (NEEP21, or NSG1or P21) and Calcyon (Caly, or NSG3) indicates that the emergence of the NEEP21/Caly/P19 gene family could play a vital role in the success of these mechanisms in vertebrates. The upshot of a sizeable body of work is that the NEEP21 and Caly perform distinct endocytic and recycling functions, which impact (i) α amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid-type glutamate receptor trafficking at excitatory synapses; (ii) transport to/in neuronal axons; as well as (iii) proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein and neuregulin 1, suggesting roles in neuron development, synaptic function, and neurodegeneration. We argue that their distinct effects on cargo endocytosis and recycling depend on interactions with vesicle trafficking and synaptic scaffolding proteins. As they play complementary, but opposing roles in cargo endocytosis, recycling, and degradation, balancing NEEP21 and Caly expression levels or activity could be important for homeostasis in a variety of signaling pathways, and also lead to a novel therapeutic strategy for disorders like Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)20-31
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Neurochemistry
Volume132
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2015

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's
  • clathrin
  • endocytosis
  • plasticity
  • recycling
  • schizophrenia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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