Release site plasticity via Unc13A regulatory domains mediates synaptic short-term facilitation and homeostatic potentiation

Chemical synaptic transmission relies on neurotransmitter release from presynaptic release sites and on transmitter-sensing by the postsynaptic cell. Presynaptic plasticity increasing neurotransmitter release achieves two fundamental nervous system functions: It tunes some synapses to be more responsive to millisecond repetitive activation and it maintains signals when postsynaptic transmitter sensitivity is reduced. How enhanced neurotransmitter release is achieved in these phenomena, termed short-term facilitation and homeostatic potentiation, remains unknown. We combine mathematical modeling and experimental analysis of Drosophila neuromuscular junction model synapses to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these forms of plasticity. Our results indicate that both phenomena depend on a rapid increase in the participation of neurotransmitter release sites which is controlled by the regulatory domains of the evolutionarily conserved (M)Unc13A protein that bind Ca2+/Calmodulin and diacylglycerol. Mutation of the Calmodulin binding (CaM) domain increased baseline transmission and impaired both short-term facilitation and acute homeostatic potentiation. Mathematical modeling indicated that these defects result from too many release sites participating at rest combined with the inability to plastically further increase their number. Super-resolution microscopy revealed that this coincided with a redistribution of Unc13As functionally essential MUN domain closer to the synaptic plasma membrane, which may constitute the molecular switch to increase release site participation. Similar consequences (enhanced baseline transmission, block of both short-term facilitation and homeostatic potentiation) were caused by the acute pharmacological activation of the C1 domain of wildtype Unc13A using phorbol esters. This treatment had no effect on Unc13A CaM domain mutants, indicating that both the CaM and C1 domains activate a binary release site switch. Thus, our findings indicate that Unc13A regulatory domains are tuned to integrate a multitude of signals on various timescales to switch release site participation for synaptic plasticity.