Axonal transport of synaptic components and synaptogenesis in Drosophila

The process of synapse formation, or synaptogenesis, is a complex process involving changes in the molecular, functional, and cellular natures of the contact sites. The building-blocks of synapses, including the proteins of active zone and synaptic vesicles, are present in the developing axons and are recruited rapidly to contact sites for synapse formation. Thus, inherent to synapse formation is the delivery and assembly of synaptic components. Transport of organelles in neurons is supported by the molecular motors. Regulation of vesicular pathways by molecular motors is an important aspect of synaptogenesis. In recent years, multiple members of the kinesin family have been linked to the transport of synaptic components, including Kinesin-1 and Kinesin-3, but many questions remain about the nature of their cargos and their roles in synapse development. In particular, the Drosophila homologue of Unc-104/KIF1A in Kinesin-3 has not been characterized to date and its synaptic function remains unknown. This dissertation presents the characterization of the Drosophila member of Kinesin-3, named immaculate connections , or imac . The study of imac functions in Drosophila motor neuron development identified previously uncharacterized phenotypic consequences of Unc-104/KIF1A defects. While the transport of synaptic vesicle and dense core vesicle components in axons were similarly compromised in imac as in C. elegans Unc-104 and mammalian KIF1A, in an unexpected consequence of loss of Imac, synaptic boutons failed to form. Mutant nerve endings did not form rounded boutons, lacked synaptic vesicles, and contained very few active zones. The postsynaptic receptors, however, clustered at nerve-muscle contact sites of imac . Our data thus indicate that Imac transports components required for synaptic maturation and provide insight into presynaptic maturation as a differentiable process from axon outgrowth and targeting. Previous studies in Drosophila implicated Kinesin-1 in transporting synaptic vesicle precursors. This work implicates Imac as essential for their transport. Imac is also required for the proper development of the photoreceptors. It is expressed in the visual system and its absence in the photoreceptors leads to defects in the layer-specific connectivity and in the ultrastructural features, including formation of multivesicular bodies. Imac thus plays a widespread role in nervous system development and synaptogenesis.