Multiple roles of a PLCb regulator in olfaction, pupal development and synaptic vesicle recycling in Drosophila melanogaster

Mridul Chakraborti; Shanti Chandrashekaran

Mridul Chakraborti Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012
Shanti Chandrashekaran Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012

Keywords: Drosophila, olfaction, pupation, G-protein, itpr

Abstract

G-protein coupled Phospholipase-C-b (PLCb) signaling and its various components are vital to the regulation of development and behaviour of Drosophila. The gene stmA (CG8739) was first characterized as a temperature sensitive paralytic mutant and recently identified as a regulator of PLCb in G-protein signaling. It alters membrane phospholipid levels and affects visual transduction. The present study establishes the role of stmA in olfaction, pupal development and synaptic vesicle recycling in Drosophila. Interaction between stmA and genes for the inositol triphosphate receptor (itpr) and for endocytosis and exocytosis in synaptic vesicles is also shown.