Protein translation has been implicated in different forms of synaptic plasticity but direct in situ visualization of new proteins is limited to one or two proteins at a time. Here we describe a metabolic labeling approach based upon incorporation of non-canonical amino acids into proteins followed by chemo–selective fluorescent tagging via click chemistry. Following brief incubation with azidohomoalanine or homopropargylglycine, a robust fluorescent signal was detected in somata and dendrites. Pulse–chase–like application of azidohomoalanine and homopropargylglycine allowed visualization of proteins synthesized in two sequential time periods. This technique can be used to detect changes in protein synthesis and to evaluate the fate of proteins synthesized in different cellular compartments. Moreover, using strain–promoted cycloaddition, we explored the dynamics of newly synthesized membrane proteins using single particle tracking and quantum dots. The newly synthesized proteins exhibited a broad range of diffusive behaviors as expected if the pool of labeled proteins was heterogeneous.

Summary The majority of fast synaptic inhibition in the brain is mediated by benzodiazepine-sensitive, α1 subunit-containing GABAARs; however, our knowledge of the mechanisms neurons use to regulate their synaptic accumulation is rudimentary. Using immunoprecipitation we demonstrate that GABAARs and gephyrin are intimately associated at inhibitory synapses in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. In vitro we reveal that the E-domain of gephyrin directly binds to the α1 subunit with an affinity of ~20 μM, mediated by residues 360-375 within the intracellular domain of this receptor subunit. Mutating residues 360-375 decreases both the accumulation of α1-containing GABAARs at gephyrin-positive inhibitory synapses in hippocampal neurons and the amplitude of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs). We also demonstrate that the affinity of gephyrin for the α1 subunit is modulated by Thr375, a putative phosphorylation site. Mutation of Thr375 to a phospho-mimetic, negatively charged amino acid decreases both the affinity of the α1 subunit for gephyrin, receptor accumulation at synapses and the amplitude of mIPSCs. Finally, single particle tracking reveals that gephyrin reduces the diffusion of α1 subunit-containing GABAARs specifically at inhibitory synapses, thereby increasing their confinement at these structures. Our results suggest that the direct binding of gephyrin to residues 360-375 of the α1 subunit and its modulation are likely to be important determinants for the stabilization of GABAARs at synaptic sites, thereby modulating the strength of synaptic inhibition.

SUMMARY The steep dependence of exocytosis on Ca2+ entry at nerve terminals implies that voltage control of both Ca2+ channel opening and the driving force for Ca2+ entry are powerful levers in sculpting synaptic efficacy. Using fast, genetically encoded voltage indicators in dissociated primary neurons, we show that at small nerve terminals K+ channels constrain the peak voltage of the presynaptic action potential (APSYN) to values much lower than those at cell somas. This key APSYN property additionally shows adaptive plasticity: manipulations that increase presynaptic Ca2+ channel abundance and release probability result in a commensurate lowering of the APSYN peak and narrowing of the waveform, while manipulations that decrease presynaptic Ca2+ channel abundance do the opposite. This modulation is eliminated upon blockade of Kv3.1 and Kv1 channels. Our studies thus reveal that adaptive plasticity in the APSYN waveform serves as an important regulator of synaptic function.