Expression of Khc^N262S causes length-dependent synaptic defects at the neuromuscular junction.

<p>Confocal images and quantification of immunofluorescent staining of synaptic marker proteins. NMJs 6/7, segment A5 of mid-third-instar <i>Drosophila</i> larva, were selected for analysis. D42>w¹¹¹⁸ and D42>khc^wt larvae were used as controls for the mutant phenotype D42>khc^N262S. All three selected synaptic marker proteins were reduced in abundance at the NMJs of khc^N262S-expressing larvae. Larvae were raised at 29°C. (A,B) The active zone protein Brp, as well as the synaptic vesicle proteins (C,D) DV-Glut and (E,F) CSP, were selected as synaptic marker proteins. (A,C,E) Confocal images revealed that DV-Glut and CSP abundance is increased in dystrophic boutons (C,E, arrows) and reduced elsewhere (C,E, arrowheads) at NMJs of D42>khc^N262S larvae. Scale bar: 5 µm; inset 2.5 µm. (B,D,F) For quantification, n = 8–10 NMJs were analyzed per genotype. Statistical significance was determined using a Kruskal-Wallis H-test followed by a Dunn's test for comparisons between multiple groups. The standard error of the mean (s.e.m.) is shown as a box, the standard deviation (s.d.) as a black line. * p<0.05; ** p<0.01.