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Targeted expression of truncated glued disrupts giant fiber synapse formation in Drosophila

Allen, Marcus J., Shan, Xiaoliang, Caruccio, Phyllis, Froggett, Stephan J., Moffat, Kevin G., Murphey, R.K. (1999) Targeted expression of truncated glued disrupts giant fiber synapse formation in Drosophila. Journal of Neuroscience, 19 (21). pp. 9374-9384. ISSN 0270-6474. (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:5872)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.

Abstract

Glued(1) (Gl(1)) mutants produce a truncated protein that acts as a poison subunit and disables the cytoplasmic retrograde motor dynein. Heterozygous mutants have axonal defects in the adult eye and the nervous system. Here we show that selective expression of the poison subunit in neurons of the giant fiber (GF) system disrupts synaptogenesis between the GF and one of its targets, the tergotrochanteral motorneuron (TTMn). Growth and pathfinding by the GF axon and the TTMn dendrite are normal, but the terminal of the GF axon fails to develop normally and becomes swollen with large vesicles. This is a presynaptic defect because expression of truncated Glued restricted to the GF results in the same defect. When tested electrophysiologically, the flies with abnormal axons show a weakened or absent GF-TTMn connection. In Glued(1) heterozygotes, GF-TTMn synapse formation appears morphologically normal, but adult flies show abnormal responses to repetitive stimuli. This physiological effect is also observed when tetanus toxin is expressed in the GFs. Because the GF-TTMn is thought to be a mixed electrochemical synapse, the results show that Glued has a role in assembling both the chemical and electrical components. We speculate that disrupting transport of a retrograde signal disrupts synapse formation and maturation.

Item Type: Article
Additional information: eng Journal Article
Uncontrolled keywords: Animals Axons/physiology Dendrites/physiology Drosophila Proteins Drosophila melanogaster/genetics/physiology Electric Stimulation Enhancer Elements (Genetics) Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Genotype Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics/*physiology Motor Neurons/*physiology Mutagenesis Nerve Fibers/*physiology Nervous System/growth & development Nervous System Physiology Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. *Sequence Deletion Synapses/*physiology retrograde motors; transport; p150(GLUED); giant fibers; UAS-GAL4; dynein-dynactin
Subjects: Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Depositing User: Marcus J Allen
Date Deposited: 13 Jun 2009 17:26 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:44 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/5872 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Allen, Marcus J..

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