Palmitoylation of Gephyrin Controls Receptor Clustering and Plasticity of GABAergic Synapses
Figure 9
Model for palmitoylation-mediated regulation of gephyrin clustering and plasticity.
Gephyrin, palmitoylated on Cys212 and 284, forms stable clusters at the postsynaptic membrane. Activity of GABAergic synapses promotes (de)palmitoylation of gephyrin by yet unknown mechanisms. Silencing of GABAergic transmission leads to gephyrin depalmitoylation and membrane release, ultimately decreasing the size of gephyrin clusters. The palmitoyl transferase DHHC-12, localized in the Golgi in neurons including presumed Golgi outposts in primary dendritic shafts, is the principle gephyrin-palmitoylating enzyme and allows dynamic (re)palmitoylation of gephyrin.