Journal article
A single-cross, RNA interference-based genetic tool for examining the long-term maintenance of homeostatic plasticity
Frontiers in cellular neuroscience, Vol.9, pp.107-107
03/26/2015
DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00107
PMCID: PMC4374470
PMID: 25859184
Abstract
Homeostatic synaptic plasticity (HSP) helps neurons and synapses maintain physiologically appropriate levels of output. The fruit fly
Drosophila melanogaster
larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a valuable model for studying HSP. Here we introduce a genetic tool that allows fruit fly researchers to examine the lifelong maintenance of HSP with a single cross. The tool is a fruit fly stock that combines the
GAL4/UAS
expression system with RNA interference (RNAi)-based knock down of a glutamate receptor subunit gene. With this stock, we uncover important new information about the maintenance of HSP. We address an open question about the role that presynaptic Ca
V
2-type Ca
2+
channels play in NMJ homeostasis. Published experiments have demonstrated that hypomorphic missense mutations in the Ca
V
2 α1a subunit gene
cacophony
(
cac
) can impair homeostatic plasticity at the NMJ. Here we report that reducing
cac
expression levels by RNAi is not sufficient to impair homeostatic plasticity. The presence of wild-type channels appears to support HSP—even when total Ca
V
2 function is severely reduced. We also conduct an RNAi- and electrophysiology-based screen to identify new factors required for sustained homeostatic signaling throughout development. We uncover novel roles in HSP for Drosophila homologs of Cysteine string protein (CSP) and Phospholipase Cβ (Plc21C). We characterize those roles through follow-up genetic tests. We discuss how CSP, Plc21C, and associated factors could modulate presynaptic Ca
V
2 function, presynaptic Ca
2+
handling, or other signaling processes crucial for sustained homeostatic regulation of NMJ function throughout development. Our findings expand the scope of signaling pathways and processes that contribute to the durable strength of the NMJ.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- A single-cross, RNA interference-based genetic tool for examining the long-term maintenance of homeostatic plasticity
- Creators
- Douglas J Brusich - Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Carver College of Medicine, University of IowaAshlyn M Spring - Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Carver College of Medicine, University of IowaC. Andrew Frank - Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in cellular neuroscience, Vol.9, pp.107-107
- DOI
- 10.3389/fncel.2015.00107
- PMID
- 25859184
- PMCID
- PMC4374470
- NLM abbreviation
- Front Cell Neurosci
- ISSN
- 1662-5102
- eISSN
- 1662-5102
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media S.A
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/26/2015
- Academic Unit
- Anatomy and Cell Biology; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984025476802771
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