Endophilin mutations block clathrin-mediated endocytosis but not neurotransmitter release.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Patrik Verstreken
  • Kjærulff, Ole
  • Thomas E Lloyd
  • Richard Atkinson
  • Yi Zhou
  • Ian A Meinertzhagen
  • Hugo J Bellen
We have identified mutations in Drosophila endophilin to study its function in vivo. Endophilin is required presynaptically at the neuromuscular junction, and absence of Endophilin dramatically impairs endocytosis in vivo. Mutant larvae that lack Endophilin fail to take up FM1-43 dye in synaptic boutons, indicating an inability to retrieve synaptic membrane. This defect is accompanied by an expansion of the presynaptic membrane, and a depletion of vesicles from the bouton lumen. Interestingly, mutant larvae are still able to sustain release at 15%-20% of the normal rate during high-frequency stimulation. We propose that kiss-and-run maintains neurotransmission at active zones of the larval NMJ in endophilin animals.
Original languageEnglish
JournalCell
Volume109
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)101-12
Number of pages11
ISSN0092-8674
Publication statusPublished - 2002

Bibliographical note

Keywords: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Animals; Carrier Proteins; Cell Size; Clathrin; Drosophila melanogaster; Endocytosis; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Motor Neurons; Mutation; Nervous System; Neuromuscular Junction; Neurotransmitter Agents; Presynaptic Terminals; Protein Transport; Synaptic Membranes; Synaptic Transmission; Synaptic Vesicles

ID: 5750016