PI(4,5)P2role in Transverse-tubule membrane formation and muscle function

Abstract

AbstractTransverse (T)-tubules – vast, tubulated domains of the muscle plasma membrane – are critical to maintain healthy skeletal and heart contractions. How the intricate T-tubule membranes are formed is not well understood, with challenges to systematically interrogate in muscle. We established the use of intact Drosophila larval body wall muscles as an ideal system to discover mechanisms that sculpt and maintain the T-tubule membrane network. A muscle-targeted genetic screen identified specific phosphoinositide lipid regulators necessary for T-tubule organization and muscle function. We show that aPI4KIIIα-Skittles/PIP5Kpathway is needed for T-tubule localized PI(4)P to PI(4,5)P2synthesis, T-tubule organization, calcium regulation, and muscle and heart rate functions. Muscles deficient forPI4KIIIαorAmphiphysin, the homolog of humanBIN1, similarly exhibited specific loss of transversal T-tubule membranes and dyad junctions, yet retained longitudinal membranes and the associated dyads. Our results highlight the power of live muscle studies, uncovering distinct mechanisms and functions for sub-compartments of the T-tubule network relevant to human myopathy.SummaryT-tubules – vast, tubulated domains of the muscle plasma membrane – are critical to maintain skeletal and heart contractions. Fujitaet al. establish genetic screens and assays in intact Drosophila muscles that uncover PI(4,5)P2regulation critical for T-tubule maintenance and function.Key FindingsPI4KIIIαis required for muscle T-tubule formation and larval mobility.API4KIIIα-Sktlpathway promotes PI(4)P and PI(4,5)P2function at T-tubules.PI4KIIIαis necessary for calcium dynamics and transversal but not longitudinal dyads.Disruption of PI(4,5)P2function in fly heart leads to fragmented T-tubules and abnormal heart rate.