TitleCa2+ binding to Esyt modulates membrane contact site density in Drosophila photoreceptors.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2025
AuthorsNath VR, Krishnan H, Mishra S, Raghu P
JournalJ Cell Biol
Volume224
Issue5
Date Published2025 May 05
KeywordsAnimals, Calcium, Calcium Signaling, Cell Membrane, Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila Proteins, Endoplasmic Reticulum, Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate, Synaptotagmins, Transient Receptor Potential Channels
Abstract

Membrane contact sites (MCS) between the plasma membrane (PM) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) regulate Ca2+ influx. However, the mechanisms by which cells modulate ER-PM MCS density are not understood, and the role of Ca2+, if any, in regulating these is unknown. We report that in Drosophila photoreceptors, MCS density is regulated by the Ca2+ channels, TRP and TRPL. Regulation of MCS density by Ca2+ is mediated by Drosophila extended synaptotagmin (dEsyt), a protein localized to ER-PM MCS and previously shown to regulate MCS density. We find that the Ca2+-binding activity of dEsyt is required for its function in vivo. dEsytCaBM, a Ca2+ non-binding mutant of dEsyt is unable to modulate MCS structure. Further, reconstitution of dEsyt null photoreceptors with dEsytCaBM is unable to rescue ER-PM MCS density and other key phenotypes. Thus, our data supports a role for Ca2+ binding to dEsyt in regulating ER-PM MCS density in photoreceptors thus tuning signal transduction during light-activated Ca2+ influx.

DOI10.1083/jcb.202407190
Short TitleJ Cell Biol