FGFR/Heartless and Smog interact synergistically to negatively regulate Fog mediated G-protein coupled receptor signaling in the Drosophila nervous system.

Folded gastrulation (Fog) is a secreted ligand that signals through the G-protein-coupled receptors Mist and Smog and the G-protein Concertina to activate downstream effectors to elicit cell-shape change during gastrulation. In the embryonic central nervous system (CNS), Fog has roles in axon guidance and glial morphogenesis. However, the elements of the pathway as well as mechanisms required for transducing the signal in this context have not been determined.

Drosophila Mon1 and Rab7 interact to regulate glutamate receptor levels at the neuromuscular junction.

Regulation of post-synaptic receptors plays an important role in determining synaptic strength and plasticity. The Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (nmj) has been used extensively as a model to understand some of these processes. In this context, we are interested in the role of Drosophila Monensin sensitivity protein 1 (DMon1) in regulating glutamate receptor (GluRIIA) levels at the nmj.

A Presynaptic Regulatory System Acts Transsynaptically via Mon1 to Regulate Glutamate Receptor Levels in Drosophila.

Mon1 is an evolutionarily conserved protein involved in the conversion of Rab5 positive early endosomes to late endosomes through the recruitment of Rab7. We have identified a role for Drosophila Mon1 in regulating glutamate receptor levels at the larval neuromuscular junction. We generated mutants in Dmon1 through P-element excision.