Article
Neurosciences
Kiel G. Ormerod, Anthony E. Scibelli, J. Troy Littleton
Summary: The Drosophila neuromuscular system has been used to study synaptic development and function, but little is known about specific synaptic alterations on neuromuscular transduction and muscle contractility. Studies show that larval muscle contraction force increases with motoneuron stimulation frequency and duration, with plasticity between 5 and 40 Hz. Genetic and pharmacological manipulations of Ca2+ regulation components affect muscle contraction strength and timing. Identification of a FMRFa peptide and its signaling pathway dramatically improves muscle performance, showcasing Drosophila as a model for studying excitation-contraction coupling.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Ryan J. Durbin, Dante J. Heredia, Thomas W. Gould, Robert B. Renden
Summary: Neurotransmission is influenced by extracellular pH. Alkalization enhances transmitter release and receptor activation, while acidification inhibits these processes and can activate acid-sensitive conductances in the synaptic cleft. The direction of change differs across synapse types. At the mammalian neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the direction and magnitude of pH transients in the synaptic cleft during transmission remain unclear. In this study, researchers investigated the extracellular pH transients at the cholinergic synapse of the mouse NMJ under near physiological conditions and identified their sources. They found that activity-induced intracellular Ca2+ release in the muscle plays a role in cleft alkalization, whereas PMCA inhibition decreases alkalization. This suggests that cholinergic synapses at the mouse NMJ typically alkalize due to cytosolic Ca2+ liberation during activity, unless under highly strenuous conditions where acidification predominates.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Kaikai He, Yifu Han, Xiling Li, Roberto X. Hernandez, Danielle Riboul, Touhid Feghhi, Karlis A. Justs, Olena Mahneva, Sarah Perry, Gregory T. Macleod, Dion Dickman
Summary: Neurons exhibit functional diversity and can be classified into tonic or phasic patterns of activity. The synaptic differences between tonic and phasic neurons have remained unclear, but this study found major distinctions in neurotransmitter release properties, Ca2+ influx, and synaptic vesicle coupling between these two types of neurons. The organization and stoichiometry of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels at phasic neuron release sites were also observed to be different. These findings suggest that active zone nano-architecture and Ca2+ influx contribute to differential glutamate release at tonic and phasic synapses.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Virender K. Sahota, Aelfwin Stone, Nathaniel S. Woodling, Jereme G. Spiers, Joern R. Steinert, Linda Partridge, Hrvoje Augustin
Summary: Alterations in the neuromuscular system contribute to various diseases and aging-related muscle loss. This study identifies Plum as a modulator of MYO function in the neuromuscular system and reveals its role in regulating muscle size and synaptic function.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jessica M. Sidisky, Danielle de Paula Moreira, Meryem Okumus, Russell Caratenuto, Cassidy Drost, Bali Connors, Sarrah Hussain, Stephanie Alkhatib, Daniel T. Babcock
Summary: Maintaining synaptic communication is crucial for preserving nervous system function as an organism ages. A genetic screen identified several genes associated with synaptic maintenance, offering insights into the mechanisms responsible for maintaining synaptic integrity with age.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yoon-Jung Kim
Summary: Activity-dependent regulation of synaptic structures plays a key role in synaptic development and plasticity. The serine/threonine protein kinase Akt is important in rapid synaptic structural changes at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction, affecting pre- and postsynaptic growth and differentiation.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Monica C. Quinones-Frias, J. Troy Littleton
Summary: The SYT family of proteins play crucial roles in regulating membrane trafficking at neuronal synapses, participating in synchronous and asynchronous fusion of synaptic vesicles and preventing spontaneous release. Changes in SYT isoforms can alter the fusion of synaptic vesicles and regulate trafficking of other subcellular organelles. However, the exact mechanisms by which SYTs interact with lipids and other effectors are still under investigation.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Minoru Nakayama, Osamu Nishimura, Yuhi Nishimura, Miwa Kitaichi, Shigehiro Kuraku, Masaki Sone, Chihiro Hama
Summary: The presentation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on synaptic membranes is crucial for generating cholinergic circuits associated with memory function and neurodegenerative disorders. Through a genetic screen of Drosophila, mutations in the nAChR subunit Da5 gene were identified as suppressors that restored the mutant phenotypes of hig, a secretory matrix protein localized to cholinergic synaptic clefts in the brain. Loss of Da5 reduces synaptic levels of nAChR through internalization, and this process is blocked by Hig, which tethers Da5 to the synaptic cleft matrix.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Irene Sanchez-Mirasierra, Sergio Hernandez-Diaz, Saurav Ghimire, Carla Montecinos-Oliva, Sandra-Fausia Soukup
Summary: This article introduces two ImageJ/Fiji automated macros for analyzing synaptic autophagy and exosome release from 2D confocal images, revealing their important roles in neurobiology. The tools Autophagoquant and Exoquant can assist researchers in unbiased, standardized, and rapid analysis of autophagy and exosomal release in the Drosophila NMJ.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Chad W. Sauvola, Yulia Akbergenova, Karen L. Cunningham, Nicole A. Aponte-Santiago, J. Troy Littleton
Summary: The study demonstrates the role of Tomosyn protein in regulating synaptic output and sustaining release of neurotransmitters in different types of neurons in fruit flies, providing insights into synaptic signaling and plasticity mechanisms in the brain.
Article
Cell Biology
Meghana Bhimreddy, Emma Rushton, Danielle L. Kopke, Kendal Broadie
Summary: The study identified a new Ca2+-binding lectin, LGC1, that modulates presynaptic function and neurotransmission strength at the Drosophila NMJ by regulating synaptic vesicle release and cycling rate to impact coordinated movement speed.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Yupu Wang, Meike Lobb-Rabe, James Ashley, Veera Anand, Robert A. Carrillo
Summary: In Drosophila larval neuromuscular junctions, ablating specific types of motor neurons can lead to structural changes and increased neurotransmitter release at other motor neuron synapses, demonstrating synaptic plasticity. Some synapses exhibit compensatory plasticity, while silencing one type of motor neuron can affect the plasticity of other types of synapses.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oliver Hendy, Leonid Serebreni, Katharina Bergauer, Felix Muerdter, Lukas Huber, Filip Nemcko, Alexander Stark
Summary: This study reveals the different chromatin remodelers required for housekeeping and developmental gene transcription in Drosophila, and explains the relationship between the distinct regulatory properties and chromatin structure and DNA sequence.
Article
Neurosciences
Alex Dyson, Megan Ryan, Shruti Garg, Gareth Evans, Richard A. Baines
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using a Drosophila model. It shows that loss of function of the NF1 gene in flies leads to tactile hypersensitivity and synaptic transmission deficits, resembling sensory abnormalities seen in individuals with ASD. The study suggests that NF1 deficiency may cause neuronal hyperexcitability and that decreased NF1 expression results in excessive neuronal firing and tactile hypersensitivity, potentially linking these two aspects. Knock-down of Ras proteins rescues both synaptic transmission deficits and behavioral deficits.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Anushka Chakravorty, Ankit Sharma, Vasu Sheeba, Ravi Manjithaya
Summary: This study investigates synaptic dysfunction using a Drosophila model of Machado-Joseph Disease (MJD). The researchers found that the polyQ repeat mutant protein ataxin-3 impairs motor neuron function and behavior. They also discovered that overexpression of the autophagy-related protein Atg8a rescues these defects. This study provides insights into potential therapeutic targets for synaptopathies.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christoph Schaub, Johannes Maerz, Ingolf Reim, Manfred Frasch
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christian Schmitt-Engel, Dorothea Schultheis, Jonas Schwirz, Nadi Stroehlein, Nicole Troelenberg, Upalparna Majumdar, Van Anh Dao, Daniela Grossmann, Tobias Richter, Maike Tech, Jurgen Doenitz, Lizzy Gerischer, Mirko Theis, Inga Schild, Jochen Trauner, Nikolaus D. B. Koniszewski, Elke Kuester, Sebastian Kittelmann, Yonggang Hu, Sabrina Lehmann, Janna Siemanowski, Julia Ulrich, Kristen A. Panfilio, Reinhard Schroeder, Burkhard Morgenstern, Mario Stanke, Frank Buchhholz, Manfred Frasch, Siegfried Roth, Ernst A. Wimmer, Michael Schoppmeier, Martin Klingler, Gregor Bucher
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2015)
Review
Biology
Mikiko Inaki, Jingyang Liu, Kenji Matsuno
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2016)
Article
Biology
Mikiko Inaki, Ryo Hatori, Naotaka Nakazawa, Takashi Okumura, Tomoki Ishibashi, Junichi Kikuta, Masaru Ishii, Kenji Matsuno, Hisao Honda
Article
Developmental Biology
Dominik Hollfelder, Manfred Frasch, Ingolf Reim
BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2014)
Article
Developmental Biology
Hadi Boukhatmi, Christoph Schaub, Laetitia Bataille, Ingolf Reim, Jean-Louis Frendo, Manfred Frasch, Alain Vincent
Article
Developmental Biology
Christoph Schaub, Manfred Frasch
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2013)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sosuke Utsunomiya, So Sakamura, Takeshi Sasamura, Tomoki Ishibashi, Chinami Maeda, Mikiko Inaki, Kenji Matsuno
Article
Cell Biology
Puspa Das, Jose L. Salazar, David Li-Kroeger, Shinya Yamamoto, Mitsutoshi Nakamura, Takeshi Sasamura, Mikiko Inaki, Wataru Masuda, Motoo Kitagawa, Tomoko Yamakawa, Kenji Matsuno
DEVELOPMENT GROWTH & DIFFERENTIATION
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Christoph Schaub, Marcel Rose, Manfred Frasch
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tomoki Ishibashi, Mikiko Inaki, Kenji Matsuno
Article
Developmental Biology
Dongsun Shin, Mitsutoshi Nakamura, Yoshitaka Morishita, Mototsugu Eiraku, Tomoko Yamakawa, Takeshi Sasamura, Masakazu Akiyama, Mikiko Inaki, Kenji Matsuno
Summary: Proper positioning of nuclei in the Drosophila anterior midgut plays a crucial role in subsequent LR-asymmetric development of the organ. Wnt4 signaling, myosin II, and the LING complex are important for collective nuclear behavior and proper positioning.
Article
Developmental Biology
Manfred Frasch, Afshan Ismat, Ingolf Reim, Jasmin Raufer
Summary: This study investigates the last step of migration and morphogenesis of longitudinal visceral muscle precursors in the Drosophila midgut. It reveals that multinucleated precursors utilize dynamic filopodial extensions to migrate and form longitudinal muscle fibers. The study also identifies Tey, a tissue-specific nuclear factor, as a crucial regulator of this process and shows its role in proper differentiation and pathfinding of the longitudinal visceral muscles.
Review
Cell Biology
Mikiko Inaki, Takeshi Sasamura, Kenji Matsuno
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2018)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Manfred Frasch
JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR DEVELOPMENT AND DISEASE
(2016)