title: A postsynaptic spectrin scaffold defines active zone size, spacing, and efficacy at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.
abstract: Synaptic connections are established with characteristic, cell type-specific size and spacing. In this study, we document a role for the postsynaptic Spectrin skeleton in this process. We use transgenic double-stranded RNA to selectively eliminate alpha-Spectrin, beta-Spectrin, or Ankyrin. In the absence of postsynaptic alpha- or beta-Spectrin, active zone size is increased and spacing is perturbed. In addition, subsynaptic muscle membranes are significantly altered. However, despite these changes, the subdivision of the synapse into active zone and periactive zone domains remains intact, both pre- and postsynaptically. Functionally, altered active zone dimensions correlate with an increase in quantal size without a change in presynaptic vesicle size. Mechanistically, beta-Spectrin is required for the localization of alpha-Spectrin and Ankyrin to the postsynaptic membrane. Although Ankyrin is not required for the localization of the Spectrin skeleton to the neuromuscular junction, it contributes to Spectrin-mediated synapse development. We propose a model in which a postsynaptic Spectrin-actin lattice acts as an organizing scaffold upon which pre- and postsynaptic development are arranged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pielage
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Fetter
authors.forename: Graeme W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017487:Ankyrins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D004594:Electrophysiology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials; D007814:Larva; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000648:ultrastructure; D021381:Protein Transport; D034622:RNA Interference; D013049:Spectrin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D017487:Ankyrins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D013049:Spectrin