The calcium channel subunit α₂δ-3 organizes synapses via an activity-dependent and autocrine BMP signaling pathway.

Abstract

Synapses are highly specialized for neurotransmitter signaling, yet activity-dependent growth factor release also plays critical roles at synapses. While efficient neurotransmitter signaling relies on precise apposition of release sites and neurotransmitter receptors, molecular mechanisms enabling high-fidelity growth factor signaling within the synaptic microenvironment remain obscure. Here we show that the auxiliary calcium channel subunit α₂δ-3 promotes the function of an activity-dependent autocrine Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling pathway at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ). α₂δ proteins have conserved synaptogenic activity, although how they execute this function has remained elusive. We find that α₂δ-3 provides an extracellular scaffold for an autocrine BMP signal, suggesting a mechanistic framework for understanding α₂δ's conserved role in synapse organization. We further establish a transcriptional requirement for activity-dependent, autocrine BMP signaling in determining synapse density, structure, and function. We propose that activity-dependent, autocrine signals provide neurons with continuous feedback on their activity state for modulating both synapse structure and function.