Zebrafish TARP Cacng2 is required for the expression and normal development of AMPA receptors at excitatory synapses.

Fast excitatory synaptic transmission in the CNS is mediated by the neurotransmitter glutamate, binding to and activating AMPA receptors (AMPARs). AMPARs are known to interact with auxiliary proteins that modulate their behavior. One such family of proteins is the transmembrane AMPA receptor-related proteins, known as TARPs.

Protein kinase Cgamma is a signaling molecule required for the developmental speeding of alpha-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate receptor kinetics.

A key step in the maturation of glutamate synapses is the developmental speeding of alpha-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate receptor (AMPA-R) kinetics, which occurs via a switch in receptor subtypes. However, the molecular components required for the switch in receptors are unknown. Here, we used the zebrafish preparation to show that activation of protein kinase C (PKC)gamma is necessary for the developmental speeding of AMPA-R kinetics.

Development of skeletal muscle sodium and potassium currents in zebrafish sofa potato mutants.

In some cells, the development of voltage-gated channels requires synaptic input, while in others it does not. Here we investigate whether the sodium and potassium currents in the skeletal muscle of zebrafish sofa potato (sop(-/-)) mutants develop normally. Zebrafish sop(-/-) mutants do not express nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular junctions, and therefore do not exhibit synaptic activity in muscle.