title: Tubby domain superfamily protein is required for the formation of the 7S SNARE complex in Drosophila.
abstract: Tubby domain superfamily protein (TUSP) is a distant member of the Tubby-like protein (TULP) family. Although other TULPs play important roles in sensation, metabolism, and development, the molecular functions of TUSP are completely unknown. Here, we explore the function of TUSP in the Drosophila nervous system where it is expressed in all neurons. Tusp mutant flies exhibit a temperature-sensitive paralysis. This paralysis can be rescued by tissue-specific expression of Tusp in the giant fibers and peripherally synapsing interneurons of the giant fiber system, a well-characterized neuronal circuit that mediates rapid escape behavior in flies. Consistent with this paralytic phenotype, we observed a profound reduction in the assembly of the ternary 7S SNARE complex that is required for neurotransmitter release despite seeing no changes in the expression of each individual SNARE complex component. Together, these data suggest TUSP is a novel regulator of SNARE assembly and, therefore, of neurotransmitter release.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Jang
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, BK 21 PLUS Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Taek
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, #81 Ilwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, BK 21 PLUS Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea. Electronic address: sjmoon@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Seok Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea. Electronic address: kimhoon@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Chul Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018869:Heat-Shock Response; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008124:Locomotion; D009154:Mutation; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D050600:SNARE Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D050600:SNARE Proteins; C486676:Tusp protein, Drosophila
keywords: 7S SNARE complex; Drosophila; Giant fiber system; Temperature-sensitive paralysis; Tubby domain superfamily protein; Tulp4