Glial wingless/Wnt regulates glutamate receptor clustering and synaptic physiology at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction

Glial cells are emerging as important regulators of synapse formation, maturation, and plasticity through the release of secreted signaling molecules. Here we use chromatin immunoprecipitation along with Drosophila genomic tiling arrays to define potential targets of the glial transcription factor R...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of neuroscience 2014-02, Vol.34 (8), p.2910-2920
Main Authors: Kerr, Kimberly S, Fuentes-Medel, Yuly, Brewer, Cassandra, Barria, Romina, Ashley, James, Abruzzi, Katharine C, Sheehan, Amy, Tasdemir-Yilmaz, Ozge E, Freeman, Marc R, Budnik, Vivian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
Drosophila
Drosophila Proteins - genetics
Electrophysiological Phenomena - physiology
Homeodomain Proteins - genetics
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Immunohistochemistry
Microscopy, Confocal
Neuroglia - physiology
Neuromuscular Junction - physiology
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Receptors, Glutamate - metabolism
RNA Interference - physiology
Synapses - physiology
Transfection
Wnt Proteins - physiology
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Summary:Glial cells are emerging as important regulators of synapse formation, maturation, and plasticity through the release of secreted signaling molecules. Here we use chromatin immunoprecipitation along with Drosophila genomic tiling arrays to define potential targets of the glial transcription factor Reversed polarity (Repo). Unexpectedly, we identified wingless (wg), a secreted morphogen that regulates synaptic growth at the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ), as a potential Repo target gene. We demonstrate that Repo regulates wg expression in vivo and that local glial cells secrete Wg at the NMJ to regulate glutamate receptor clustering and synaptic function. This work identifies Wg as a novel in vivo glial-secreted factor that specifically modulates assembly of the postsynaptic signaling machinery at the Drosophila NMJ.
ISSN:0270-6474
1529-2401
DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3714-13.2014