Phospholipids Differentially Regulate Ca 2+ Binding to Synaptotagmin-1

Synaptotagmin-1 (Syt-1) is a calcium sensing protein that is resident in synaptic vesicles. It is well established that Syt-1 is essential for fast and synchronous neurotransmitter release. However, the role of Ca and phospholipid binding in the function of Syt-1, and ultimately in neurotransmitter release, is unclear. Here, we investigate the binding of Ca to Syt-1, first in the absence of lipids, using native mass spectrometry to evaluate individual binding affinities. Syt-1 binds to one Ca with a ∼ 45 μM. Each subsequent binding affinity ( ≥ 2) is successively unfavorable. Given that Syt-1 has been reported to bind anionic phospholipids to modulate the Ca binding affinity, we explored the extent that Ca binding was mediated by selected anionic phospholipid binding. We found that phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P ) and dioleoylphosphatidylserine (DOPS) positively modulated Ca binding. However, the extent of Syt-1 binding to phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate (PI(3,5)P ) was reduced with increasing [Ca ]. Overall, we find that specific lipids differentially modulate Ca binding. Given that these lipids are enriched in different subcellular compartments and therefore may interact with Syt-1 at different stages of the synaptic vesicle cycle, we propose a regulatory mechanism involving Syt-1, Ca , and anionic phospholipids that may also control some aspects of vesicular exocytosis.