Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures01:32

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

1.8K
Complex microtubule structures are present in resting cells and in dividing cells. In resting cells, they are responsible for maintaining the cellular architecture, tracks for intracellular transport, positioning of organelles, assembly of cilia and flagella. They mediate the bipolar spindle assembly for chromosomal segregation and positioning of the cell division plate in dividing cells. The formation of microtubule complex structures depends on the cell type, cell stage, and cell function.
1.8K
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

8.6K
Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
8.6K
Neuromuscular Junction And Blockade01:29

Neuromuscular Junction And Blockade

2.8K
The site of chemical communication between a motor neuron and a muscle fiber is called the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). The end of the motor neuron at the NMJ divides into a cluster of synaptic end bulbs. The cytoplasm of these bulbs consists of synaptic vesicles enclosing acetylcholine molecules, the principal neurotransmitter released at the NMJ. The region opposite the synaptic bulb that ends in the muscle fiber is called the motor end plate, which has acetylcholine receptors. Within the...
2.8K
Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action01:26

Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action

2.1K
Neurochemical transmission, the conduction of electrical impulses between neurons mediated by neurotransmitters, plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Autonomic drugs exert their effects by modulating neurotransmission within the autonomic nervous system. For instance, drugs such as hemicholinium block the precursor uptake necessary for synthesizing acetylcholine, an essential autonomic neurotransmitter. Following synthesis, neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles. Metyrosine...
2.1K
Mechanism of Ciliary Motion01:05

Mechanism of Ciliary Motion

3.6K
The ciliary structures were first seen in 1647 by Antonie Leeuwenhoek while observing the protozoans. In lower organisms, these appendages are responsible for cell movement, while in higher organisms, these appendages help in the movement of the extracellular fluids within the body cavities.
The cilia are made up of microtubules in a 9+2 arrangement, with nine microtubule doublet ring bundles, surrounding a pair of central singlet microtubule bundles. The doublet microtubule bundles are...
3.6K
Long-term Depression01:03

Long-term Depression

2.5K
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
2.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Scaling up polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography to image the whole macaque brain.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Impaired motor activity in a CRISPR SCA5 L253P knock-in mouse is associated with selective β-III-spectrin subcellular redistribution in the cerebellum.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Comparison of Independent Analyses of Identical Image Sets Reveals Significant Analyst-to-Analyst Variability.

Journal of biomolecular techniques : JBT·2025
Same author

Motion impact score for detecting spurious brain-behavior associations.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

The crucial role of bioimage analysts in scientific research and publication.

Journal of cell science·2024
Same author

Quantifying brain development in the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study: The magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy protocol.

Developmental cognitive neuroscience·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2025

Analyzing Synaptic Modulation of Drosophila melanogaster Photoreceptors after Exposure to Prolonged Light
11:36

Analyzing Synaptic Modulation of Drosophila melanogaster Photoreceptors after Exposure to Prolonged Light

Published on: February 10, 2017

6.5K

Dynein-driven regulation of postsynaptic membrane architecture and synaptic function.

Amanda L Neisch1, Thomas Pengo2, Adam W Avery1

  • 1Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.

Journal of Cell Science
|January 27, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Cytoplasmic dynein has a novel postsynaptic role at Drosophila neuromuscular junctions. It organizes the spectrin cytoskeleton and ionotropic glutamate receptor fields, impacting synaptic transmission.

Keywords:
DyneinGlutamatergic neuronsNeuromuscular junctionPostsynaptic architecture

More Related Videos

Two Algorithms for High-throughput and Multi-parametric Quantification of Drosophila Neuromuscular Junction Morphology
12:29

Two Algorithms for High-throughput and Multi-parametric Quantification of Drosophila Neuromuscular Junction Morphology

Published on: May 3, 2017

10.2K
Focal Macropatch Recordings of Synaptic Currents from the Drosophila Larval Neuromuscular Junction
07:01

Focal Macropatch Recordings of Synaptic Currents from the Drosophila Larval Neuromuscular Junction

Published on: September 25, 2017

6.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 30, 2025

Analyzing Synaptic Modulation of Drosophila melanogaster Photoreceptors after Exposure to Prolonged Light
11:36

Analyzing Synaptic Modulation of Drosophila melanogaster Photoreceptors after Exposure to Prolonged Light

Published on: February 10, 2017

6.5K
Two Algorithms for High-throughput and Multi-parametric Quantification of Drosophila Neuromuscular Junction Morphology
12:29

Two Algorithms for High-throughput and Multi-parametric Quantification of Drosophila Neuromuscular Junction Morphology

Published on: May 3, 2017

10.2K
Focal Macropatch Recordings of Synaptic Currents from the Drosophila Larval Neuromuscular Junction
07:01

Focal Macropatch Recordings of Synaptic Currents from the Drosophila Larval Neuromuscular Junction

Published on: September 25, 2017

6.0K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Cytoplasmic dynein is crucial for retrograde cargo transport in motor neurons.
  • Its function on the postsynaptic side of neuronal circuits is largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the postsynaptic roles of dynein at Drosophila neuromuscular junctions.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying dynein's postsynaptic function.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Drosophila neuromuscular junctions for studying postsynaptic dynein.
  • Investigated the localization and function of dynein, Skittles (Sktl), phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), and spectrin.
  • Assessed the impact of dynein depletion on ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR) fields and synaptic transmission.

Main Results:

  • Dynein puncta accumulate postsynaptically at glutamatergic terminals.
  • Postsynaptic dynein depletion disrupts Skittles, PIP2, and spectrin organization.
  • Dynein depletion leads to larger iGluR fields and altered miniature excitatory junctional potentials.
  • PIP2 levels and dynein do not affect iGluR clustering or subunit levels.

Conclusions:

  • Dynein has a transport-independent function in organizing postsynaptic iGluR clusters.
  • Postsynaptic dynein contributes to the organization of receptor fields, ensuring proper synaptic transmission.