Demonstrating the temperature sensitivity of synaptic transmission in a Drosophila mutant.
Year: 2005
Type: article
Abstract: We describe exercises that illustrate the temperature sensitivity of synaptic transmission. The temperature dependence of synaptic transmission is demonstrated by cooling the larval Drosophila melanogaster preparation and recording excitatory junction potentials. Vesicle recycling is explored by utilizing a mutation of the shibire gene. This shibire mutant shows a robust reduction in synaptic vesicle recycling when temperature exceeds a known threshold (∼29° C). Students gain proficiency with the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction preparation while investigating principles of vesicle release, vesicle recycling, synaptic facilitation and synaptic depression. We show that the viability of the larval preparation is prolonged in vitro with moderate cooling, which is particularly important when introducing the preparation as a novel exercise.
Source: Europe PMC (PubMed Central)
Authors: Jacob L Krans, Patricia K Rivlin, Ronald R Hoy
Institution: Cornell University
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W207033873