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Stac3 regulates excitation-contraction coupling (EC coupling) in vertebrate skeletal muscles by regulating the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (Ca v channel). Recently a stac -like gene, Dstac , was identified in Drosophila and found to be expressed by both a subset of neurons and muscles. Here, we show that Dstac and Dmca1D, the Drosophila L-type Ca v channel, are necessary for normal locomotion by larvae. Immunolabeling with specific antibodies against Dstac and Dmca1D found that Dstac and Dmca1D are expressed by larval body-wall muscles. Furthermore, Ca 2+ imaging of muscles of Dstac and Dmca1D deficient larvae found that Dstac and Dmca1D are required for excitation-contraction coupling. Finally, Dstac appears to be required for normal expression levels of Dmca1D in body-wall muscles. These results suggest that Dstac regulates Dmca1D during EC coupling and thus muscle contraction., (Copyright © 2020 Hsu, Linsley, Reid, Hume, Leflein and Kuwada.)