Structural basis of calcium-dependent C1ql/BAI assemblies in synaptic connectivity

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal in establishing and maintaining synaptic connectivity. Emerging evidence indicates that some secreted factors within the synaptic cleft, including C1q-like proteins (C1qls), play a crucial role in bridging pre- and post-synapses by connecting the bilateral CAMs. However, the mechanisms of those secreted factors in synapse assembly remain incomplete. Here, we explored C1ql-mediated synaptic connectivity, focusing on the assembly of C1ql1 and its post-synaptic receptor brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 3 (BAI3). Our biochemical, structural, and computational analyses reveal that the trimeric globular C1q (gC1q) domain of C1ql1 undergoes a calcium-modulated domain-swapping event to form a hexamer. Cryo-EM study manifests the stabilizing role of calcium ions on the C1ql1-gC1q hexamer in complex with the extended CUB domain of BAI3. Using the gC1q hexamer, full-length C1ql1 further assembles into linear clusters, creating a scaffold that effectively accumulates BAI3 receptors on the plasma membrane. Our cellular and in vivo studies consolidate the essential role of the gC1q-mediated dynamic assembly of C1ql1 in receptor accumulation and synapse maintenance. Collectively, our findings provide a plausible mechanism of secreted factor-mediated synaptic connectivity, driven by the calcium-modulated assembly of C1qls and their interactions with CAMs.