Lethal comatose mutation in Drosophila reveals possible role for NSF in neurogenesis.
NSF is a cytosolic ATPase implicated in a variety of cellular functions including synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Here we report a lethal mutation in the Drosophila homolog of NSF (dNSF1). Lethality staging and rescue experiments with the wild type dNSF1 transgene show that NSF1 is critically required during early larval stages and during late pupariation. Lethality in larval stages is associated with defects in neurogenesis as evidenced by an overall reduction in synapse size and synapse branching. Moreover, escaper adults, though showing abnormal seizure-like paralytic behavior, are normal in terms of synaptic transmission as assayed by electroretinograms. Taken together, these data indicate a role for NSF in neural growth and branching in addition to its documented role in synaptic transmission.
Sanyal
S
S
Department of Molecular Biology, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay, India.
Krishnan
K S
KS
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D005804:Genes, Lethal / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007814:Larva / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology*; D052066:N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Proteins; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011679:Pupa / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D050600:SNARE Proteins; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000235:genetics; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D050600:SNARE Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; C498732:comt protein, Drosophila; D052066:N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Proteins