Kismet positively regulates glutamate receptor localization and synaptic transmission at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction

PLoS One. 2014 Nov 20;9(11):e113494. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113494. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a glutamatergic synapse that is structurally and functionally similar to mammalian glutamatergic synapses. These synapses can, as a result of changes in activity, alter the strength of their connections via processes that require chromatin remodeling and changes in gene expression. The chromodomain helicase DNA binding (CHD) protein, Kismet (Kis), is expressed in both motor neuron nuclei and postsynaptic muscle nuclei of the Drosophila larvae. Here, we show that Kis is important for motor neuron synaptic morphology, the localization and clustering of postsynaptic glutamate receptors, larval motor behavior, and synaptic transmission. Our data suggest that Kis is part of the machinery that modulates the development and function of the NMJ. Kis is the homolog to human CHD7, which is mutated in CHARGE syndrome. Thus, our data suggest novel avenues of investigation for synaptic defects associated with CHARGE syndrome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly
  • DNA Helicases / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila / growth & development
  • Drosophila / metabolism*
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Larva / metabolism
  • Locomotion / physiology
  • Motor Neurons / metabolism
  • Muscles / metabolism
  • Neuromuscular Junction / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Glutamate / metabolism*
  • Synapses / metabolism
  • Synapses / pathology
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Receptors, Glutamate
  • DNA Helicases
  • kis protein, Drosophila