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✅ Clock genes period and timeless control synaptogenesis in Drosophila motor terminals

science

Some neurons undergo rhythmic morphological changes that persist in constant darkness and require the expression of clock genes. Flight motoneuron MN5, one of the best studied neurons of Drosophila melanogaster exhibits several examples of this type of circadian structural plasticity. During the morning, when the fly is active, synaptic boutons are larger than during the night when the fly is resting though more synaptic boutons and synapses are observed. Here, by comparing bouton numbers at different timepoints in normal flies and in flies carrying loss-of-function mutations in clock genes timeless (tim) or period (per), we investigate whether the rhythmic changes in numbers of boutons and synapses require the expression of these genes.

BioRxiv     Nov 17, 2024