The receptor tyrosine kinase MuSK is indispensable for nerve-muscle synapse formation and maintenance. MuSK is necessary for pre-patterning of the endplate zone anlage and as a signaling receptor for agrin-mediated postsynaptic differentiation. MuSK-associated proteins such as Dok7, LRP4, and Wnt11r are involved in these early events in neuromuscular junction formation. However, the mechanisms regulating synapse stability are poorly understood. Here we examine a novel role for the extracellular matrix protein biglycan in synapse stability. Synaptic development in fetal and early postnatal biglycan null (bgn-/o) muscle is indistinguishable from wild type controls. However, by 5 wks after birth nerve-muscle synapses in bgn-/o mice are abnormal as judged by the presence of perijunctional folds, increased segmentation and focal misalignment of acetylcholinesterase and AChRs. These observations indicate that previously occupied pre- and post- synaptic territory has been vacated. Biglycan binds MuSK and the levels of this receptor tyrosine kinase are selectively reduced at bgn-/o synapses. In bgn-/o myotubes, the initial stages of agrin-induced MuSK phosphorylation and AChR clustering are normal, but the AChR clusters are unstable. This stability defect can be substantially rescued by the addition of purified biglycan. Together, these results indicate that biglycan is an extracellular ligand for MuSK that is important for synapse stability.

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Background: Acetylcholinesterase RNA and protein are concentrated at the neuromuscular synapse but how its translation is regulated is not known. Results: The translational repressor Pumilio-2 is localized at the neuromuscular synapse where it binds acetylcholinesterase mRNA. Conclusions: Pumilio-2 regulates acetylcholinesterase expression at the neuromuscular synapse. Significance: Translational control of synaptic proteins can regulate synaptic transmission; changing acetylcholinesterase levels could influence sensitivity of cholinergic synapses.

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