Biology subjects

Teodoro, R. O.

Publications and source records attributed to Teodoro, R. O..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Mammalian glial protrusion transcriptomes predict localization of Drosophila glial transcripts required for synaptic plasticity

The polarization of cells often involves the transport of specific mRNAs and their localized translation in distal projections. Neurons and glia both contain long cytoplasmic processes with important functions. mRNA localization has been studied extensively in neurons, but very little in glia, especially in intact nervous systems. Here, we predicted 1,700 localized Drosophila glial transcripts by extrapolating from our meta-analysis of 8 existing studies characterizing the localized transcriptomes and translatomes of synaptically-associated mammalian glia. We tested these predictions in glia of the neuromuscular junction of Drosophila larvae and found that localization to mammalian glia is a strong predictor of mRNA localization of the high confidence Drosophila homologues. We further showed that some of these localized transcripts are required in glia for plasticity of the neuromuscular junction synapses. We conclude that peripheral glial mRNA localization is a common and conserved phenomenon and propose that it is likely to be functionally important.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Motor neuron boutons remodel through membrane blebbing

Wired neurons form new presynaptic boutons in response to increased synaptic activity, but the mechanism by which this occurs remains uncertain. The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a synapse formed between motor neurons (MNs) and skeletal muscle fibers and is critical for control of muscle contraction. Because Drosophila MNs have clearly discernible boutons that display robust structural plasticity, it is the ideal system in which to study bouton genesis. Here we show using ex-vivo and by live imaging that in response to depolarization, MNs form new boutons by membrane blebbing, a pressure-driven mechanism used in 3-D migration, but never described as a neuronal remodeling strategy. In accordance, F-actin is decreased during bouton growth (a hallmark of blebs) and we show that non-muscle myosin-II (a master regulator of blebbing) is recruited to newly formed boutons. Furthermore, we discovered that muscle contraction plays a mechanical role in activity-dependent plasticity, promoting bouton addition by increasing MNs confinement. Overall, we provide a novel mechanism by which established circuits create new boutons allowing their structural expansion and plasticity, using trans-synaptic physical forces as the main driving force. Understanding MN-muscle interplay during activity-dependent plasticity can help clarify the mechanisms leading to MN degeneracy observed in neuromuscular diseases.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Peripheral axonal ensheathment is regulated by Ral GTPase and the exocyst complex

Axon ensheathment is fundamental for fast impulse conduction and the normal physiological functioning of the nervous system. Defects in axonal insulation lead to debilitating conditions, but despite its importance, the molecular players responsible are poorly defined. Here, we identify Ral GTPase as a key player in axon ensheathment in Drosophila larval peripheral nerves. We demonstrate through genetic analysis that Ral action through the exocyst complex is sufficient and necessary in wrapping glial cells to regulate their growth and development. We suggest that the Ral-exocyst pathway controls the targeting of secretory vesicles for membrane growth or for the secretion of a wrapping glia-specific factor that itself regulates growth. In summary, our findings provide a new molecular understanding of the process by which axons are ensheathed in vivo, a process critical for normal neuronal function.

neuroscience↗