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Drosophila synaptotagmin I null mutants survive to early adulthood
Author(s) -
Loewen Carin A.,
Mackler Jennifer M.,
Reist Noreen E.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/gene.10002
Subject(s) - synaptotagmin 1 , biology , synaptotagmin i , neurotransmitter , microbiology and biotechnology , synaptic vesicle , mutant , synapse , synapsin , neuroscience , genetics , vesicle , central nervous system , gene , membrane
Summary: Synaptotagmin is a synaptic vesicle protein required for efficient neurotransmitter release, yet its exact role in the synaptic vesicle cycle is unclear. Drosophila presents an ideal organism for studies aimed at determining the in vivo functions of proteins. However, synaptotagmin studies have been limited by the early (embryonic or first instar) lethality previously reported for Drosophila synaptotagmin I null (syt null ) mutants. Here we report a new culturing technique that enhances survival of severely uncoordinated mutants thereby permitting Drosophila syt null mutants to survive through early adulthood. We examined synapses in syt null third instar larvae by electrophysiology and found that they exhibit severely decreased and asynchronous evoked neurotransmitter release, as well as an increased rate of spontaneous neurotransmitter release, as previously seen in first instar syt null larvae. The ability to examine severe synaptotagmin mutants as third instar larvae, a stage where electrophysiological and morphological analyses are more easily accomplished, will facilitate structure/function studies. genesis 31:30–36, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.