Nuclear import and synapse to nucleus signalling at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction

As a result of their geographical and functional disparities, mechanisms must exist to ensure proper communication between the neuronal synapse and the cell body. This is essential for proper regulation of gene transcription in response to development, external stimuli and intercellular signalling. Amongst these processes, the signals themselves, their modes of transport and the resultant transcriptional targets have been extensively studied. The actual mechanism, however, of passage from the neuronal cytoplasm into the nucleus is not as well understood. Recent work has identified a critical role for an active nuclear import process in regulating such aspects of neuronal function as injury response, learning and axon guidance. In a screen for genes involved in synaptic transmission, the Drosophila homologue of importin-β11, a novel nuclear import factor, was identified. This thesis examines the characterization of importin-,β11 and an elucidation of its role in conveying a Wnt-based synapse-to-nucleus signal at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. The loss of neuronal importin-β11 resulted in lethality as well as structural and functional impairments at the NMJ. The structural and functional defects can be attributed to a reduction in presynaptic signalling through the TGF-β / BMP pathway. While most synaptic proteins are normal despite an absence of importin-β11, failures of postsynaptic apposition by scaffolding proteins are apparent. These defects highlight a role for importin-β11 in the Wnt signalling pathway. Here, importin-β11 is responsible for a classical nuclear import pathway responsible for translocation of a Frizzled receptor-based Wnt signal from the postsynapse to the nucleus. The identification of a nuclear import pathway allows for a novel dissection of the Wnt signalling pathway and identification of a physiological result for the postsynaptic Wnt signal. To further elucidate the roles of importin-β11, we have also conducted an unbiased proteomics screen for proteins capable of interaction with importin-β11. We have identified a number of candidate interacting proteins that provide novel avenues of study for importins. Through elucidating both pre- and postsynaptic roles for this member of the nuclear import machinery and identifying candidates by which signalling mechanisms occur, we have forwarded the understanding of the active import process in synapse-to-nucleus signalling.