Fm1-43 labeling of Drosophila larval neuromuscular junctions

Abstract

Over the last two decades, the Drosophila larval neuromuscularjunction (NMJ) has gained immense popularity as a model systemfor the study of synaptic development, function, and plasticity.With this model, it is easy to visualize synapses and manipulatethe system genetically with a high degree of temporal and spatialcontrol, which makes it ideal for resolving problems in synapticphysiology and development. Here, we describe a simple methodfor looking at vesicle recycling at the NMJ by labeling withFM1-43 dye.