37th Annual Student Research Conference
Fem-1 regulates synapse formation and development of the Drosophila neuromuscular junction
Anna K. Cernich
Dr. Brett A. Berke, Faculty Mentor
The Fem-1 protein assists protein ubiquitination, which marks cellular proteins for degradation. Its function has been implicated in insulin signaling, glucose metabolism, sex determination, and courtship. Here, we show that the Fem-1 protein of Drosophila melanogaster also influences synapse formation at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), sites of signal transmission between neurons and their muscle targets. NMJs in Drosophila form during embryonic development based on accurate cellular recognition between, motoneurons and their target muscles. Mistakes in target recognition during development result in erroneously-placed NMJs, known as ectopic synapses. These ectopics are normally removed by activity-dependent mechanisms within the motoneuron, such that decreasing motoneuron activity increases the number of ectopics. At the same time, an increase in motoneuron activity during development leads to larger NMJs. Here, we show that mutations of the Fem-1 gene surprisingly lead to more ectopics and larger NMJs, implicating the Fem-1 protein in both NMJ formation and growth.
Keywords: Fem-1, Drosophila melanogaster, Ectopic synapses
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 405-1
Location: MG 2001
Time: 2:00