Multiple roles of a PLCβ regulator in olfaction, pupal development and synaptic vesicle recycling in Drosophila melanogaster

G-protein coupled Phospholipase-C-β (PLCβ) signaling and its various components are vital to the regulation of development and behaviour of Drosophila. The gene stmA (CG8739) was first characterized as a temperature sensitive paralytic mutant and recently identified as a regulator of PLCβ in G-protein signaling. It alters membrane phospholipid levels and affects visual transduction. The present study establishes the role of stmA in olfaction, pupal development and synaptic vesicle recycling in Drosophila. Interaction between stmA and genes for the inositol triphosphate receptor (itpr) and for endocytosis and exocytosis in synaptic vesicles is also shown.