The Drosophila Wnt, wingless, provides an essential signal for pre- and postsynaptic differentiation.
At vertebrate neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), Agrin plays pivotal roles in synapse development, but molecules that activate synapse formation at central synapses are largely unknown. Members of the Wnt family are well established as morphogens, yet recently they have also been implicated in synapse maturation. Here we demonstrate that the Drosophila Wnt, Wingless (Wg), is essential for synapse development. We show that Wg and its receptor are expressed at glutamatergic NMJs, and that Wg is secreted by synaptic boutons. Loss of Wg leads to dramatic reductions in target-dependent synapse formation, and new boutons either fail to develop active zones and postsynaptic specializations or these are strikingly aberrant. We suggest that Wg signals the coordinated development of pre- and postsynaptic compartments.
Packard
Mary
M
Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
Koo
Ellen Sumin
ES
Gorczyca
Michael
M
Sharpe
Jade
J
Cumberledge
Susan
S
Budnik
Vivian
V
D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials; D016296:Mutagenesis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013569:Synapses; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C074622:wg protein, Drosophila