Summarizes all areas of research using the fruit fly neuromuscular junction as a model system, including muscle development, early synaptogenesis, synapse maturation, ion channel function, and vesicle exocytosis and recycling. Other subjects covered include mechanisms of neurotransmitter release, controlling the motor neuron, and development of electrical properties at the embryonic neuromuscular junction. Contributors not only summarize their work with flies, but put their research in the context of the larger field of neuroscience. Material is written in language understandable to readers unfamiliar with fruit fly research. Includes b&w and color images. The editors teach biology at the University of Massachusetts. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Contributors xi Preface xiii Early Development of the Drosophila Neuromuscular Junction: A Model for Studying Neuronal Networks in Development Akira Chiba Introduction 1(2) Neuronal Network Model System 3(7) Principles of Neuronal Network Development 10(7) Future Challenges 17(2) Conclusions 19(6) References 19(6) Development of Larval Body Wall Muscles Michael Bate Matthias Landgraf Mar Ruiz Gomez Bate Introduction 25(2) Origins of Muscle-Forming Cells from Embryonic Mesoderm 27(3) Muscle Specification 30(7) The General Pathway of Myogenesis 37(3) Conclusions 40(5) References 40(5) Development of Electrical Properties and Synaptic Transmission at the Embryonic Neuromuscular Junction Kendal S. Broadie Introduction 45(1) Physiological Maturation of Electrical Properties in Embryonic Myotubes 46(4) Glutamate Receptors and Maturation of the Postsynaptic Glutamate-Gated Current in Embryonic Myotubes 50(3) Neural Induction of Postsynaptic Specialization 53(2) Retrograde Induction of Presynaptic Specialization 55(2) Physiological Maturation of Synaptic Transmission 57(3) Development of Synaptic Modulation Properties 60(1) Methods for Electrophysiological Assays of the Embryonic Neuromuscular Junction 61(3) Conclusions and Perspectives 64(5) References 65(4) Ultrastructural Correlates of Neuromuscular Junction Development Mary B. Rheuben Motojiro Yoshihara Yoshiaki Kidokoro Introduction 69(2) Features and Development of the Junctional Aggregate 71(7) Differentiation of Postsynaptic Specializations 78(7) Characterization and Development of Presynaptic Specializations 85(8) References 89(4) Assembly and Maturation of the Drosophila Larval Neuromuscular Junction L. Sian Gramates Vivian Budnik Introduction 93(1) A Bit of Anatomy 94(3) A Whirlwind Tour of Development 97(2) Mechanisms of Synapse Assembly 99(5) Structural Plasticity at the Neuromuscular Junction 104(6) Concluding Remarks and Future Directions 110(9) References 111(8) Second Messenger Systems Underlying Plasticity at the Neuromuscular Junction Frances Hannan Yi Zhong Introduction 119(1) Short-Term Plasticity 120(4) Neuromodulation 124(3) Structural Plasticity 127(4) Long-Term Functional Plasticity 131(8) References 133(6) Mechanisms of Neurotransmitter Release J. Troy Littleton Leo Pallanck Barry Ganetzky Introduction 139(1) The SNARE Hypothesis 140(2) Measuring Synaptic Function in Drosophila 142(3) Mutational Analysis of the SNARE Complex 145(3) Synaptotagmin and Ca2+ Regulation of SNARE Function 148(3) Additional Components of the Release Apparatus 151(3) Conclusions 154(9) References 156(7) Vesicle Recycling at the Drosophila Neuromuscular Junction Daniel T. Stimson Mani Ramaswami Introduction 163(1) Origins of Synaptic Vesicle Recycling Studies in Drosophila 164(1) Molecular and Phenotypic Analysis of shi Mutants 165(2) Cell Biology of Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Drosophila 167(5) Molecules Involved in Synaptic Vesicle Recycling 172(1) Assays for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Drosophila 173(8) Direct and Indirect Effects 181(1) Conclusions 182(9) References 183(8) Ionic Currents in Larval Muscles of Drosophila Satpal Singh Chun-Fang Wu Introduction 191(2) Potassium Currents 193(16) Calcium Currents 209(4) Conclusions 213(8) References 214(7) Development of the Adult Neuromuscular System Joyce J. Fernandes Haig Keshishian Introduction 221(2) The Adult Musculature 223
Professor Peter Jenner is a specialist in preclinical aspects of neurodegenerative diseases, notably Parkinsons disease. He has spent the major part of his career at Kings College London where he was Head of Pharmacology for 14 years before returning to his research roots and subsequently becoming Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology. Peter has expertise in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics but neuropharmacology based on functional models of neurodegenerative diseases has formed the major focus of his work. Peter holds a BPharm, PhD and DSc degree from the University of London. He has published well over 1000 articles with more than 700 peer reviewed papers. He is a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the British Pharmacological Society, the Royal Society of Medicine and of Kings College London. Peter was recently honoured with a Doctor Honoris Causa degree from Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest and made an Honorary Fellow of The British Pharmacological Society for his contribution to research in to movement disorders. Peter has worked closely with the pharmaceutical industry for many years and acts as an adviser and consultant to both major pharma and biotech companies. He has a wide knowledge of the drug discovery and drug development process and has been involved from molecule synthesis through to drug registration for use in man. Peter was the Founder, Director and Chief Scientific Officer of Proximagen, a biotech focussed on the treatment and cure of neurodegenerative diseases that was listed on AIMs and subsequently purchased by a US based healthcare company. He is a regular speaker at international meetings and also takes time to speak at Parkinsons disease patient-carer groups across the UK.
