Figure 8
Working model of nsfst 53neuroendocrine cells. A schematic of regulated neuropeptide secretion is shown, as adapted from [47, 48]. In wild-type (WT) cells, newly translated neuropeptides in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are sorted in the trans-Golgi network, packaged into immature secretory granules, and finally released from mature dense-core secretory vesicles at the plasma membrane (reviewed in [49]). In secretion-defective nsfst 53 hypothalamic neurons, a buildup of ER-like membranes and soma accumulation of neuropeptides is observed. We hypothesize that in secretory-deficient nsf mutants, accumulation of 'unspent neuropeptide consumables' triggers a cytoplasmic-to-nuclear feedback signal that silences neuroendocrine transcriptional programs. NP = neuropeptide, PM = plasma membrane, TF = transcription factor.