Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2025
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster E94
Höfundar / Authors: Theodóra Björk Ægisdóttir (1), Zophonías Oddur Jónsson (2), Sigríður Rut Franzdóttir (3)
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: 1. Háskóli Íslands, 2. Líf-og umhverfisvísindadeild
Kynnir / Presenter: Theodóra Björk Ægisdóttir
Growth and maturation of the Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ) is a tightly regulated process involving multiple factors. Misregulation in Drosophila NMJ development can cause defects leading to reduced pupal hatching, shortened adult lifespan and increasing mobility deficits. At the NMJ itself satellite boutons can form as the result of misregulation of the synaptic microtubules or other factors associated with diverse developmental pathways and processes. Motor neuron specific knock-down of ubiquitous proteins of the AAA+ ATPs family results in irregularities and ectopic budding at the synapses leading to the formation of satellite boutons. In this study the knock-down phenotype was further dissected to identify the role and location of the proteins at the NMJ. To define causative relationships, a candidate modifier screen was performed using genes representing processes known to be involved in regulating NMJ growth and structure. Factors showing clear rescue, and their associated processes or developmental pathway were then examined further. Studying this phenotype in detail at the molecular level provides new insight into the cytoplasmic and neurobiological roles of the proteins and could bring new light to the understanding of NMJ development and neuromuscular disorders.