The Dissociation of Latrophilin Fragments by Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Inhibits LTXN4C-Induced Neurotransmitter Release

α-Latrotoxin stimulates neurotransmitter release by binding to a presynaptic receptor and then forming ion-permeable membrane pores and/or stimulating the receptor, latrophilin-1, or Adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor type L1 (ADGRL1). To avoid pore formation, we use the mutant α-latrotoxin (LTXN4C), which does not form pores and only acts through ADGRL1. ADGRL1 is cleaved into an N-terminal fragment (NTF) and a C-terminal fragment (CTF), which behave as independent cell-surface proteins, reassociating upon binding LTXN4C. We investigated the role of the NTF-CTF association in LTXN4C action, using perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). We demonstrate that at low concentrations (≤100 μM) PFOA does not adversely affect ADGRL1-expressing neuroblastoma cells or inhibit LTXN4C binding. However, it causes the dissociation of the NTF-CTF complexes, independent redistribution of the fragments on the cell surface, and their separate internalization. PFOA also promotes the dissociation of NTF-CTF complexes induced by LTXN4C binding. When applied to mouse neuromuscular junctions, PFOA inhibits LTXN4C-induced neurotransmitter release in a concentration-dependent manner. Our results indicate that ADGRL1 can mediate LTXN4C signaling only while its fragments remain associated. These findings explain some aspects of receptor-dependent toxin action and contribute to a mechanistic understanding of ADGRL1 functions in neurons.