PARALYSIS AND EARLY DEATH IN CYSTEINE STRING PROTEIN MUTANTS OF DROSOPHILA

Multimeric complexes of synaptic vesicle and terminal membrane protein s are important components of the neurotransmitter release mechanism. The csp gene of Drosophila encodes proteins homologous to synaptic ves icle proteins in Torpedo. Monoclonal antibodies demonstrate different distributions of isoforms at distinct subsets of terminals. Deletion o f the csp gene in Drosophila causes a temperature-sensitive block of s ynaptic transmission, followed by paralysis and premature death.