A postsynaptic Spectrin scaffold defines active zone size, spacing, and efficacy at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction

Content Provider	Scilit
Author	Pielage, Jan Fetter, Richard D. Davis, Graeme W.
Copyright Year	2006
Description	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 α-Spectrin, β-Spectrin, or Ankyrin. In the absence of postsynaptic α- or β-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, β-Spectrin is required for the localization of α-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.
Related Links	http://jcb.rupress.org/content/175/3/491.full.pdf https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2064525/pdf
Ending Page	503
Page Count	13
Starting Page	491
DOI	10.1083/jcb.200607036
Journal	Journal of Cell Biology
Issue Number	3
Volume Number	175
Language	English
Publisher	Rockefeller University Press
Publisher Date	2006-11-06
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	Developmental Biology Efficacy Neuromuscular Junction Active Zone Functionally Model Postsynaptic Spectrin Journal: Journal of Cell Biology (Vol- 175, Issue- 3)
Content Type	Text