Abstract
Aplysia VAP-33 (VAMP-associated protein) has been previously proposed to be involved in the control of neurotransmitter release. Here, we show that a Drosophila homolog of VAP-33, DVAP-33A, is localized to neuromuscular junctions. Loss of DVAP-33A causes a severe decrease in the number of boutons and a corresponding increase in bouton size. Conversely, presynaptic overexpression of DVAP-33A induces an increase in the number of boutons and a decrease in their size. Gain-of-function experiments show that the presynaptic dose of DVAP-33A tightly modulates the number of synaptic boutons. Our data also indicate that the presynaptic microtubule architecture is severely compromised in DVAP-33A mutants. We propose that a DVAP-33A-mediated interaction between microtubules and presynaptic membrane plays a pivotal role during bouton budding.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Axonal Transport / genetics
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Carrier Proteins / genetics
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Carrier Proteins / isolation & purification*
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Cell Differentiation / physiology
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Cytoskeleton / genetics
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Cytoskeleton / metabolism
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Cytoskeleton / ultrastructure
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Drosophila Proteins*
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Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
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Drosophila melanogaster / growth & development*
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Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism
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Female
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Gene Dosage*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology
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Genetic Testing
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Immunohistochemistry
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Insect Proteins / metabolism
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Male
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Membrane Proteins / deficiency
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Membrane Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / isolation & purification*
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Microscopy, Electron
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Microtubules / metabolism*
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Microtubules / ultrastructure
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Mutation / genetics
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Nervous System / growth & development*
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Nervous System / metabolism
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Nervous System / ultrastructure
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Neuromuscular Junction / growth & development*
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Neuromuscular Junction / metabolism
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Neuromuscular Junction / ultrastructure
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Presynaptic Terminals / metabolism*
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Presynaptic Terminals / ultrastructure
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
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Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
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Signal Transduction / physiology
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Synaptic Membranes / metabolism
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Synaptic Membranes / ultrastructure
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Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism
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Vesicular Transport Proteins*
Substances
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Carrier Proteins
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Drosophila Proteins
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Insect Proteins
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Membrane Proteins
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Tumor Suppressor Proteins
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VAPA protein, human
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Vap33 protein, Drosophila
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Vesicular Transport Proteins
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dlg1 protein, Drosophila