RETROGRADE TGF-β SIGNALING AND ITS EFFECTS ON WD40 AT THE DROSOPHILA NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION

Abstract

TGF-β signaling is particularly well studied for its role in early embryonic patterning and cell proliferation specific to cancer progression. At the larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, several ligands from the TGF-β superfamily have been shown to promote synaptic growth and evoked neurotransmitter release. We focused on the retrograde bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling pathway and its potential role for the presynaptic expression of WD40, a potential cofactor of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Cullin 4 (Cul4) that is required for evoked neurotransmitter release. The goal of this project was to investigate whether this TGF-β signaling pathway regulates the expression of WD40. In conclusion, our data shows evidence that WD40 might a critical effector of retrograde BMP signaling at Drosophila NMJs.