Localization of hu-li tai shao and its role in dlg regulation during drosophila neuromuscular junction development

Mammalian Adducin is a protein involved in synaptic stability, and there has been evidence that adducin interacts with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) associated genes. Drosophila Adducin (hu-li tai shao, Hts) facilitates cytoskeleton organization through regulation of the submembranous actin-spectrin network and is important for neuromuscular junction (NMJ) development. Investigations into the cellular distribution of Hts shows that it is present in both cytosol and nuclei, while the functional role of Hts appears to involve the localization of scaffolding protein Discs large (Dlg). Dlg is known to regulate NMJ growth by facilitating adhesion molecules between the motor neuron and muscle. Muscle-specific over-expression of Hts protein results in the delocalization of Dlg from the postsynaptic membrane, while Hts over-expression in concert with knockdown of nuclear transport proteins is able to reverse this delocalization effect. We propose that Hts exerts its influence on NMJ development through Dlg-mediated adhesion.