title: Spinsters, synaptic defects, and amaurotic idiocy.
abstract: In this issue of Neuron, Sweeney and Davis present a beautiful characterization of Drosophila mutants in a gene named spinster. The results indicate a function of the endocytic pathway in regulating transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling at the Drosophila motor synapse. This study provides important new information at an intersection of several disciplines, including membrane traffic, lipid organization, synaptic signaling, and neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
authors.forename: Subhabrata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanyal
authors.forename: Mani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramaswami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000235:genetics; D020140:Lysosomal Storage Diseases, Nervous System / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000235:genetics; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C429164:spin protein, Drosophila; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta