ZEBRAFISH DNM1A GENE PLAYS A ROLE IN THE FORMATION OF AXONS AND SYNAPSES IN THE NERVOUS TISSUE

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is the most important endocytic way for the internalization of cargoes from the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells into the cytoplasm,1 and plays an important role in nerve terminals, where is involved in the recycling of synaptic vesicles after the release of neurotransmitters.2 Several proteins are engaged in this process, such as the classical dynamins (DNMs). DNMs assemble into helical polymers at the necks of clathrin-coated endocytic pits and mediate fission of the underlying tubular membrane to generate a free endocytic vesicle. Three DNM genes are present in mammals. DNM1 is expressed at high levels in neurons, where it takes place in the recycling of synaptic vesicles; DNM2 is ubiquitously expressed, while DNM3 is found in the brain and in the testis.3 In the teleost zebrafish (Danio rerio), two orthologs of the human DNM1 are present, named dnm1a and dnm1b. In particular, we focused on the role of dnm1a during embryonic development through the morpholino-based gene knockdown technology, characterizing this gene for the first time. Our data demonstrate that dnm1a has a nervous tissue-specific expression pattern and plays a role in the formation of both axon and neuromuscular junctions.