Seeing Presynaptic Calcium Channels
نویسندگان
چکیده
The Drosophila gene cacophony (cac) encodes the 1 subunit of a presynaptic voltage-gated calcium channel. This gene locus was first identified, and named, because of a role in the male courtship song. These channels, activated during an action potential, trigger neurotransmitter release at the fly neuromuscular junction. To visualize their location in live animals, Kawasaki et al. created a transgenic fly in which 1 subunits were tagged with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Deletion of the cac gene is embryonic lethal, but flies rescued with the transgene had normal viability and EPSCs, confirming that the transgene was functional. CAC1-EGFP was expressed on synaptic boutons at larval neuromuscular junctions in register with postsynaptic active zones. In the adult fly, CAC1-EGFP marked synaptic axonal swellings of 1–2 m that were spaced at 1–2 m intervals. The new protein will allow live imaging of calcium channels as well as colocalization of other presynaptic proteins. Œ Development/Plasticity/Repair
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