title: Essential role for dlg in synaptic clustering of Shaker K+ channels in vivo.
abstract: The assemblage of specific ion channels and receptors at synaptic sites is crucial for signaling between pre- and postsynaptic cells. However, the mechanisms by which proteins are targeted to and clustered at synapses are poorly understood. Here we show that the product of the Drosophila discs-large gene, DLG, is colocalized with Shaker K+ channels, which are clustered at glutamatergic synapses at the larval neuromuscular junction. In heterologous cells, DLG can cluster Shaker-type K+ channels, and, in the yeast two-hybrid system, the DLG PDZ1-2 domains bind directly to the C-terminal tail of Shaker proteins. We also demonstrate that DLG-Shaker interactions are required in vivo for Shaker clustering at the neuromuscular junction. Synaptic clustering of Shaker channels is abolished not only by mutations in dlg but also by a mutation in Shaker that deletes its C-terminal DLG binding motif. Analyses of various dlg mutant alleles suggest that channel clustering and synaptic targeting functions depend on distinct DLG domains. These studies demonstrate for the first time that DLG plays an important role in synaptic organization in vivo that correlates with its ability to bind directly to specific membrane proteins of the synapse.
authors.affiliation: Unidad Asociada-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Alicante, San Juan 03080 Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Tejedor
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bokhari
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rogero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gorczyca
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Budnik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D051637:Shaker Superfamily of Potassium Channels; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; D015221:Potassium Channels; C496929:Sh protein, Drosophila; D051637:Shaker Superfamily of Potassium Channels; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C070350:dlg1 protein, Drosophila