prickle modulates microtubule polarity and axonal transport to ameliorate seizures in flies

SN Ehaideb, A Iyengar, A Ueda… - Proceedings of the …, 2014 - National Acad Sciences
SN Ehaideb, A Iyengar, A Ueda, GJ Iacobucci, C Cranston, AG Bassuk, D Gubb, JD Axelrod
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014National Acad Sciences
Recent analyses in flies, mice, zebrafish, and humans showed that mutations in prickle
orthologs result in epileptic phenotypes, although the mechanism responsible for generating
the seizures was unknown. Here, we show that Prickle organizes microtubule polarity and
affects their growth dynamics in axons of Drosophila neurons, which in turn influences both
anterograde and retrograde vesicle transport. We also show that enhancement of the
anterograde transport mechanism is the cause of the seizure phenotype in flies, which can …
Recent analyses in flies, mice, zebrafish, and humans showed that mutations in prickle orthologs result in epileptic phenotypes, although the mechanism responsible for generating the seizures was unknown. Here, we show that Prickle organizes microtubule polarity and affects their growth dynamics in axons of Drosophila neurons, which in turn influences both anterograde and retrograde vesicle transport. We also show that enhancement of the anterograde transport mechanism is the cause of the seizure phenotype in flies, which can be suppressed by reducing the level of either of two Kinesin motor proteins responsible for anterograde vesicle transport. Additionally, we show that seizure-prone prickle mutant flies have electrophysiological defects similar to other fly mutants used to study seizures, and that merely altering the balance of the two adult prickle isoforms in neurons can predispose flies to seizures. These data reveal a previously unidentified pathway in the pathophysiology of seizure disorders and provide evidence for a more generalized cellular mechanism whereby Prickle mediates polarity by influencing microtubule-mediated transport.
National Acad Sciences