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PMID: 10191319 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Glutamate receptor expression regulates quantal size and quantal content at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience ·Vol. 19 ·No. 8 ·1999-04-15 ·Pages 3023-32

DiAntonio A, Petersen SA, Heckmann M, Goodman CS

Abstract

At the Drosophila glutamatergic neuromuscular junction, the postsynaptic cell can regulate synaptic strength by both changing its sensitivity to neurotransmitter and generating a retrograde signal that regulates presynaptic transmitter release. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying these forms of plasticity, we have undertaken a genetic analysis of two postsynaptic glutamate receptors that are expressed at this synapse. Deletion of both genes results in embryonic lethality that can be rescued by transgenic expression of either receptor. Although these receptors are redundant for viability, they have important differences. By transgenically rescuing the double mutant, we have investigated the relationship of receptor gene dosage and composition to synaptic function. We find that the receptor subunit composition regulates quantal size, Argiotoxin sensitivity, and receptor desensitization kinetics. Finally, we show that the activity of the receptor can regulate the retrograde signal functioning at this synapse. Thus, the diversity of receptors expressed at this synapse provides the cell with mechanisms for generating synaptic plasticity.

MeSH Terms
Animals Animals, Genetically Modified Drosophila/metabolism Indoleacetic Acids Ion Channels/physiology Mutation Neuromuscular Junction/physiology Neuronal Plasticity/physiology Patch-Clamp Techniques Phenylacetates/pharmacology Polyamines/pharmacology Quantum Theory Receptors, Glutamate/biosynthesis
Chemicals
Indoleacetic Acids Ion Channels Phenylacetates Polyamines Receptors, Glutamate argiotoxin-636
Authors & Affiliations
4 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
DiAntonio A
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Petersen S A
Heckmann M
Goodman C S
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Article Info
Journal
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Abbr.
J Neurosci
ISSN
0270-6474
Published
1999-04-15
Pages
3023-32
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
8102140
PMCID
PMC6782296
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source PMC Full Text View journal details
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