Title

New synaptic bouton formation is disrupted by misregulation of microtubule stability in aPKC mutants

Student Author(s)

James Ashley

Academic Program

Neuroscience

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Neurobiology; Budnik Lab; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Program

Publication Date

2004-05-26

Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Neuroscience and Neurobiology

Abstract

The Baz/Par-3-Par-6-aPKC complex is an evolutionarily conserved cassette critical for the development of polarity in epithelial cells, neuroblasts, and oocytes. aPKC is also implicated in long-term synaptic plasticity in mammals and the persistence of memory in flies, suggesting a synaptic function for this cassette. Here we show that at Drosophila glutamatergic synapses, aPKC controls the formation and structure of synapses by regulating microtubule (MT) dynamics. At the presynapse, aPKC regulates the stability of MTs by promoting the association of the MAP1Brelated protein Futsch to MTs. At the postsynapse, aPKC regulates the synaptic cytoskeleton by controlling the extent of Actin-rich and MT-rich areas. In addition, we show that Baz and Par-6 are also expressed at synapses and that their synaptic localization depends on aPKC activity. Our findings establish a novel role for this complex during synapse development and provide a cellular context for understanding the role of aPKC in synaptic plasticity and memory.

DOI of Published Version

10.1016/S0896-6273(04)00255-7

Source

Neuron. 2004 May 27;42(4):567-80.

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Neuron

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

PubMed ID

15157419

Link to Full Text

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