Stress and muscular dystrophy: A genetic screen for Dystroglycan and Dystrophin interactors in Drosophila identifies cellular stress response components

► In vivo genetic interaction screen in ageing dystrophic muscle identified novel Dys and Dg modifiers that (a) have human homologues implicated in muscular dystrophies and tumors, (b) function in neuron-muscle communication and cellular stress response. ► Stress accelerates muscle degeneration: (a) hyperthermia and oxidative stress cause degeneration of normal muscles, (b) dystrophic muscles in addition are more susceptible to hypothermia and ageing, (c) Dg, but not Dys is the transducer of energetic stress in muscles.