DTip60 HAT activity controls synaptic bouton expansion at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Histone acetylation of chromatin plays a key role in promoting the dynamic transcriptional responses in neurons that influence the neuroplasticity linked to cognitive ability, yet the specific histone acetyltransferases (HATs) that create such epigenetic marks remain to be elucidated.

Methods and findings

Here we use the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) as a well-characterized synapse model to identify HATs that control synaptic remodeling and structure. We show that the HAT dTip60 is concentrated both pre and post-synaptically within the NMJ. Presynaptic targeted reduction of dTip60 HAT activity causes a significant increase in synaptic bouton number that specifically affects type Is boutons. The excess boutons show a suppression of the active zone synapti

SUBMITTER: Sarthi J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3203119 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature