Stac protein regulates release of neuropeptides.

Abstract

Neuropeptides are important for regulating numerous neural functions and behaviors. Release of neuropeptides requires long-lasting, high levels of cytosolic Ca²⁺ However, the molecular regulation of neuropeptide release remains to be clarified. Recently, Stac3 was identified as a key regulator of L-type Ca²⁺ channels (CaChs) and excitation-contraction coupling in vertebrate skeletal muscles. There is a small family of <i>stac</i> genes in vertebrates with other members expressed by subsets of neurons in the central nervous system. The function of neural Stac proteins, however, is poorly understood. <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> contain a single <i>stac</i> gene, <i>Dstac</i>, which is expressed by muscles and a subset of neurons, including neuropeptide-expressing motor neurons. Here, genetic manipulations, coupled with immunolabeling, Ca²⁺ imaging, electrophysiology, and behavioral analysis, revealed that Dstac regulates L-type CaChs (Dmca1D) in <i>Drosophila</i> motor neurons and this, in turn, controls the release of neuropeptides.