Dynein-driven regulation of postsynaptic membrane architecture and synaptic function.

ABSTRACT: Cytoplasmic dynein is essential in motor neurons for retrograde cargo transport that sustains neuronal connectivity. Little, however, is known about dynein function on the postsynaptic side of the circuit. Here, we report distinct postsynaptic roles for dynein at neuromuscular junctions in Drosophila. Intriguingly, we show that dynein puncta accumulate postsynaptically at glutamatergic synaptic terminals. Moreover, Skittles (Sktl), a phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase that produces phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) to organize the spectrin cytoskeleton, also localizes specifically to glutamatergic synaptic terminals. Depletion of postsynaptic dynein disrupted the accumulation of Skittles and the PIP2 phospholipid, and organization of the spectrin cytoskeleton at the posts

SUBMITTER: Neisch AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11959486 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature