Albin and Davis, 2004, J. Neurosci. 24(31): 6871--6879

Albin and Davis, 2004, J. Neurosci. 24(31): 6871--6879
FlyBase Identifier	FBrf0180421
FlyBase URL	http://flybase.org/reports/FBrf0180421.html
Publication Type	paper
Publication Year	2004
PubMed ID	15295021
PubMed URL	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15295021

Title

Coordinating structural and functional synapse development: postsynaptic p21-activated kinase independently specifies glutamate receptor abundance and postsynaptic morphology.

Abstract

Here, we show that postsynaptic p21-activated kinase (Pak) signaling diverges into two genetically separable pathways at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. One pathway controls glutamate receptor abundance. Pak signaling within this pathway is specified by a required interaction with the adaptor protein Dreadlocks (Dock). We demonstrate that Dock is localized to the synapse via an Src homology 2-mediated protein interaction. Dock is not necessary for Pak localization but is necessary to restrict Pak signaling to control glutamate receptor abundance. A second genetically separable function of Pak kinase signaling controls muscle membrane specialization through the regulation of synaptic Discs-large. In this pathway, Dock is dispensable. We present a model in which divergent Pak signaling is able to coordinate two different features of postsynaptic maturation, receptor abundance, and muscle membrane specialization.

Genes from Reference

Gene(s)	Dmel\w