Abstract
α-Latrotoxin stimulates neurotransmitter release by binding to a presynaptic receptor and then forming ion-permeable membrane pores and/or stimulating the receptor, latrophilin-1, or Adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor type L1 (ADGRL1). To avoid pore formation, we use the mutant α-latrotoxin (LTX(N4C)), which does not form pores and only acts through ADGRL1. ADGRL1 is cleaved into an N-terminal fragment (NTF) and a C-terminal fragment (CTF), which behave as independent cell-surface proteins, reassociating upon binding LTX(N4C). We investigated the role of the NTF-CTF association in LTX(N4C) action, using perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). We demonstrate that at low concentrations (≤100 μM) PFOA does not adversely affect ADGRL1-expressing neuroblastoma cells or inhibit LTX(N4C) binding. However, it causes the dissociation of the NTF-CTF complexes, independent redistribution of the fragments on the cell surface, and their separate internalization. PFOA also promotes the dissociation of NTF-CTF complexes induced by LTX(N4C) binding. When applied to mouse neuromuscular junctions, PFOA inhibits LTX(N4C)-induced neurotransmitter release in a concentration-dependent manner. Our results indicate that ADGRL1 can mediate LTX(N4C) signaling only while its fragments remain associated. These findings explain some aspects of receptor-dependent toxin action and contribute to a mechanistic understanding of ADGRL1 functions in neurons.