QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, January 31, 2007, 27(5):1033-1044; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3160-06.2007

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in J. Neurosci. Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (9) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gorczyca, D. Articles by Budnik, V. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gorczyca, D. Articles by Budnik, V.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Cellular/Molecular
Postsynaptic Membrane Addition Depends on the Discs-Large-Interacting t-SNARE Gtaxin

David Gorczyca,^1 * James Ashley,^1 * Sean Speese,¹ Norberto Gherbesi,¹ Ulrich Thomas,² Eckart Gundelfinger,² L. Sian Gramates,³ and Vivian Budnik¹

¹Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, ²Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118 Magdeburg, Germany, and ³Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003

Correspondence should be addressed to Vivian Budnik, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605. Email: Vivian.Budnik{at}umassmed.edu

Targeted membrane addition is a hallmark of many cellular functions. In the nervous system, modification of synaptic membrane size has a major impact on synaptic function. However, because of the complex shape of neurons and the need to target membrane addition to very small and polarized synaptic compartments, this process is poorly understood. Here, we show that Gtaxin (GTX), a Drosophila t-SNARE (target-soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor), is required for expansion of postsynaptic membranes during new synapse formation. Mutations in gtx lead to drastic reductions in postsynaptic membrane surface, whereas gtx upregulation results in the formation of complex membrane structures at ectopic sites. Postsynaptic GTX activity depends on its direct interaction with Discs-Large (DLG), a multidomain scaffolding protein of the PSD-95 (postsynaptic density protein-95) family with key roles in cell polarity and formation of cellular junctions as well as synaptic protein anchoring and trafficking. We show that DLG selectively determines the postsynaptic distribution of GTX to type I, but not to type II or type III boutons on the same cell, thereby defining sites of membrane addition to this unique set of glutamatergic synapses. We provide a mechanistic explanation for selective targeted membrane expansion at specific synaptic junctions.

Key words: postsynaptic plasticity; neuromuscular junction; Discs-large; Drosophila; membrane addition; MAGUK

---

Received July 24, 2006; revised Nov. 20, 2006; accepted Dec. 20, 2006.

Correspondence should be addressed to Vivian Budnik, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605. Email: Vivian.Budnik{at}umassmed.edu

Related articles in J. Neurosci.:

This Week in The Journal

J. Neurosci. 2007 27: i. [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Bolis, S. Coviello, I. Visigalli, C. Taveggia, A. Bachi, A. H. Chishti, T. Hanada, A. Quattrini, S. C. Previtali, A. Biffi, et al. Dlg1, Sec8, and Mtmr2 Regulate Membrane Homeostasis in Schwann Cell Myelination J. Neurosci., July 8, 2009; 29(27): 8858 - 8870. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Kumar, R. Fricke, D. Bhar, S. Reddy-Alla, K. S. Krishnan, S. Bogdan, and M. Ramaswami Syndapin Promotes Formation of a Postsynaptic Membrane System in Drosophila Mol. Biol. Cell, April 15, 2009; 20(8): 2254 - 2264. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Alexander, K. K. M. Chan, A. B. Byrne, G. Selman, T. Lee, J. Ono, E. Wong, R. Puckrin, S. J. Dixon, and P. J. Roy An UNC-40 pathway directs postsynaptic membrane extension in Caenorhabditis elegans Development, March 15, 2009; 136(6): 911 - 922. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Rohrbough, E. Rushton, E. Woodruff III, T. Fergestad, K. Vigneswaran, and K. Broadie Presynaptic establishment of the synaptic cleft extracellular matrix is required for post-synaptic differentiation Genes & Dev., October 15, 2007; 21(20): 2607 - 2628. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help