title: Drosophila neuromuscular synapse assembly and function require the TGF-beta type I receptor saxophone and the transcription factor Mad.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-betas (TGF-beta) comprise a superfamily of secreted proteins with diverse functions in patterning and cell division control. TGF-beta signaling has been implicated in synapse assembly and plasticity in both vertebrate and invertebrate systems. Recently, wishful thinking, a Drosophila gene that encodes a protein related to BMP type II receptors, has been shown to be required for the normal function and development of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). These findings suggest that a TGF-beta-related ligand activates a signaling cascade involving type I and II receptors and the Smad family of transcription factors to orchestrate the assembly of the NMJ. Here we demonstrate that the TGF-beta type I receptor Saxophone and the downstream transcription factor Mothers against dpp (Mad) are essential for the normal structural and functional development of the Drosophila NMJ, a synapse that displays activity-dependent plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, ARL Division of Neurobiology, and the Arizona Cancer Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA.
authors.forename: Joel M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rawson
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eric L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Scott B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Selleck
mesh_terms: D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000502:physiology; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000502:physiology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C112506:MAD protein, Drosophila; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014157:Transcription Factors; C086338:sax protein, Drosophila; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I