Direct interaction of Dysbindin with the AP-3 complex via its μ subunit

Genetic factors are important in the etiology of schizophrenia. Recent studies have revealed the association between genetic variation of Dysbindin (DTNBP1) and schizophrenia. Dysbindin is one of the essential components of the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex 1 (BLOC-1). BLOC-1 physically interacts with the adaptor protein (AP)-3 complex, which is essential for vesicle or protein sorting. However, it remains largely unknown how BLOC-1 interacts with the AP-3 complex. To investigate the binding mode of BLOC-1 and the AP-3 complex, we examined the relation between Dysbindin and the AP-3 complex and found that Dysbindin formed a complex with the AP-3 complex through the direct binding to its μ subunit. Dysbindin partially co-localized with the AP-3 complex in CA1 and CA3 of mouse hippocampus, and at presynaptic terminals and axonal growth cones of cultured hippocampal neurons. Suppression of Dysbindin results in the reduction of presynaptic protein expression and glutamate release. Thus, Dysbindin appears to participate in the exocytosis or sorting of the synaptic vesicle via direct interaction with the AP-3 complex.