Characterization of synaptotagmin 7 function in neurotransmission and its subcellular localization at synapses

Synaptic vesicle (SV) fusion is dependent on proteins that can sense Ca²⁺ and trigger fusion with the plasma membrane. Neurotransmitter release occurs during a rapid synchronized phase of SV fusion mediated by the Ca²⁺ sensor Synaptotagmin 1 (SYT1). A slower SYT1-independent asynchronous phase is also present at many synapses and has been hypothesized to be mediated by another Synaptotagmin, SYT7. To determine if SYT7 plays an evolutionarily conserved role as an asynchronous Ca²⁺ sensor, we used the CRISPR-Cas9 system to generate mutations in the Syt7 locus and introduced tags to label the endogenous protein in Drosophila. Electrophysiology, FM1-43 analysis and quantal imaging revealed that release probability is elevated 2-fold at larval neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) in Syt7 mutants. No structural changes were identified that could contribute to the elevated evoked response.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctoral

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biology

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Quiñones-Frías, Mónica C.(Mónica Cristina)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• J. Troy Littleton.

• Biology.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127136

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/127136