Mirror image motifs mediate the interaction of the COOH terminus of multiple synaptotagmins with the neurexins and calmodulin

I have previously reported that the COOH-terminal 34 amino acids of synaptotagmin 1 are capable of interacting with the presynaptic proteins, the neurexins. Multiple synaptotagmins and a synaptotagmin-like protein, rabphilin 3A, are conserved in this domain, raising the possibility that many different synaptotagmins may interact with neurexins. Here I report that the COOH termini of synaptotagmins 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 and rabphilin 3A are capable of interacting with neurexins. The COOH terminus of rabphilin 3A is still capable of substantial enrichment of neurexins from solubilized brain membranes even though only 11 of 33 residues are identical with the COOH terminus of synaptotagmin 1. Like the purification of neurexins on the COOH terminus of synaptotagmin I, purification by the COOH terminus of rabphilin 3A is calcium-independent. The conservation between carboxyl termini of these proteins suggests symmetrical motifs are necessary for neurexin binding. These include the sequence Leu-X-His-Trp, followed by 13 amino acids, and the sequence Trp-His-X-Leu. Deletion of the first motif or substitution of residues in the second of these motifs greatly reduces neurexin enrichment. Interestingly, these same COOH termini yield substantial calcium-dependent enrichment of calmodulin mediated by the first of these sequence motifs, This correlates with the binding of I-125-labeled calmodulin by recombinant pieces of synaptotagmin 1 containing the carboxyl terminus. These data suggest that multiple synaptotagmins may interact with neurexins to mediate docking or regulation of neurotransmitter release and that synaptotagmins may be calcium-regulated via interaction with calmodulin.