Drosophila Dscam is required for divergent segregation of sister branches and suppresses ectopic bifurcation of axons

DSCAM deficiency causes loss of pre-inspiratory neuron synchroneity and perinatal death

Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (DSCAM) is a neural adhesion molecule that plays diverse roles in neural development. We disrupted the Dscam locus in mice and found that the null mutants (Dscam(-/-)) died within 24 h after birth. Whole-body plethysmography showed irregular respiration and lower ventilatory response to hypercapnia in the null mutants. Furthermore, a medulla-spinal cord preparation of Dscam(-/-) mice showed that the C4 ventral root activity, which drives diaphragm contraction for inspiration, had an irregular rhythm with frequent apneas. Optical imaging of the preparation using voltage-sensitive dye revealed that the pre-inspiratory neurons located in the rostral ventrolateral medulla and belonging to the rhythm generator for respiration, lost their synchroneity in Dscam(-/-) mice. Dscam(+/-) mice, which survived to adulthood without any overt abnormalities, also showed irregular respiration but milder than Dscam(-/-) mice. These results suggest that DSCAM plays a critical role in central respiratory regulation in a dosage-dependent manner.

Endodomain diversity in the Drosophila Dscam and its roles in neuronal morphogenesis

Drosophila Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam) can be variably spliced to encode 152,064 distinct single-pass transmembrane proteins. In addition to 19,008 possible ectodomains and two alternative transmembrane segments, it may carry endodomains containing or lacking exons 19 and 23. Here, we determine the role of Dscam endodomain diversity in neural development. Dscam with full-length endodomain is largely restricted to embryogenesis. In contrast, most Dscams lack exons 19 and 23 at postembryonic stages. As implicated from the expression patterns, removal of Dscam exon 19-containing variants disrupts wiring of embryonic neurons while silencing of Dscam transcripts lacking exon 19 or exon 23 effectively blocks postembryonic neuronal morphogenesis. Furthermore, compared with exon 19-containing Dscam, transgenic Dscam without exon 19 is more efficiently targeted to neurites and more potently suppresses axon bifurcation in Dscam mutant neurons. In sum, Dscam with or without exon 19 in its endodomain is used to govern different stage-specific neuronal morphogenetic processes, possibly due to differences in protein targeting.

The mushroom body of adult Drosophila characterized by GAL4 drivers

The mushroom body is required for a variety of behaviors of Drosophila melanogaster. Different types of intrinsic and extrinsic mushroom body neurons might underlie its functional diversity. There have been many GAL4 driver lines identified that prominently label the mushroom body intrinsic neurons, which are known as "Kenyon cells." Under one constant experimental condition, we analyzed and compared the the expression patterns of 25 GAL4 drivers labeling the mushroom body. As an internet resource, we established a digital catalog indexing representative confocal data of them. Further more, we counted the number of GAL4-positive Kenyon cells in each line. We found that approximately 2,000 Kenyon cells can be genetically labeled in total. Three major Kenyon cell subtypes, the gamma, alpha'/beta', and alpha/beta neurons, respectively, contribute to 33, 18, and 49% of 2,000 Kenyon cells. Taken together, this study lays groundwork for functional dissection of the mushroom body.

Dscam-mediated cell recognition regulates neural circuit formation

The Dscam family of immunoglobulin cell surface proteins mediates recognition events between neurons that play an essential role in the establishment of neural circuits. The Drosophila Dscam1 locus encodes tens of thousands of cell surface proteins via alternative splicing. These isoforms exhibit exquisite isoform-specific binding in vitro that mediates homophilic repulsion in vivo. These properties provide the molecular basis for self-avoidance, an essential developmental mechanism that allows axonal and dendritic processes to uniformly cover their synaptic fields. In a mechanistically similar fashion, homophilic repulsion mediated by Drosophila Dscam2 prevents processes from the same class of cells from occupying overlapping synaptic fields through a process called tiling. Genetic studies in the mouse visual system support the view that vertebrate DSCAM also promotes both self-avoidance and tiling. By contrast, DSCAM and DSCAM-L promote layer-specific targeting in the chick visual system, presumably through promoting homophilic adhesion. The fly and mouse studies underscore the importance of homophilic repulsion in regulating neural circuit assembly, whereas the chick studies suggest that DSCAM proteins may mediate a variety of different recognition events during wiring in a context-dependent fashion.

Dynein-dynactin complex is essential for dendritic restriction of TM1-containing Drosophila Dscam

Background

Many membrane proteins, including Drosophila Dscam, are enriched in dendrites or axons within neurons. However, little is known about how the differential distribution is established and maintained.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Here we investigated the mechanisms underlying the dendritic targeting of Dscam[TM1]. Through forward genetic mosaic screens and by silencing specific genes via targeted RNAi, we found that several genes, encoding various components of the dynein-dynactin complex, are required for restricting Dscam[TM1] to the mushroom body dendrites. In contrast, compromising dynein/dynactin function did not affect dendritic targeting of two other dendritic markers, Nod and Rdl. Tracing newly synthesized Dscam[TM1] further revealed that compromising dynein/dynactin function did not affect the initial dendritic targeting of Dscam[TM1], but disrupted the maintenance of its restriction to dendrites.

Conclusions/Significance

The results of this study suggest multiple mechanisms of dendritic protein targeting. Notably, dynein-dynactin plays a role in excluding dendritic Dscam, but not Rdl, from axons by retrograde transport.

Dscam-mediated repulsion controls tiling and self-avoidance

Recent studies have uncovered the molecular basis of self-avoidance and tiling, two fundamental principles required for the formation of neural circuits. Both of these wiring strategies are established through homophilic repulsion between Dscam proteins expressed on opposing cell surfaces. In Drosophila, Dscam1 mediates self-avoidance, whereas Dscam2 mediates tiling. By contrast, phenotypes in the retina of the DSCAM mutant mouse indicate that DSCAM functions in both self-avoidance and tiling. These findings suggest that homophilic recognition molecules that have classically been defined as adhesive may also function as repulsive cues and that Dscam proteins specialize in this function.

Neuronal development: neighbors have to be different

The assembly of neurons into functional circuits requires a multitude of cellular recognition events. Recent work on the hypervariable Drosophila Dscam gene revealed how a vast number of cell adhesion proteins contributes to neuronal patterning.

Dscam and Sidekick proteins direct lamina-specific synaptic connections in vertebrate retina

Synaptic circuits in the retina transform visual input gathered by photoreceptors into messages that retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) send to the brain. Processes of retinal interneurons (amacrine and bipolar cells) form synapses on dendrites of RGCs in the inner plexiform layer (IPL). The IPL is divided into at least 10 parallel sublaminae; subsets of interneurons and RGCs arborize and form synapses in just one or a few of them. These lamina-specific circuits determine the visual features to which RGC subtypes respond. Here we show that four closely related immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) adhesion molecules--Dscam (Down's syndrome cell adhesion molecule), DscamL (refs 6-9), Sidekick-1 and Sidekick-2 (ref. 10)--are expressed in chick by non-overlapping subsets of interneurons and RGCs that form synapses in distinct IPL sublaminae. Moreover, each protein is concentrated within the appropriate sublaminae and each mediates homophilic adhesion. Loss- and gain-of-function studies in vivo indicate that these IgSF members participate in determining the IPL sublaminae in which synaptic partners arborize and connect. Thus, vertebrate Dscams, like Drosophila Dscams, play roles in neural connectivity. Together, our results on Dscams and Sidekicks suggest the existence of an IgSF code for laminar specificity in retina and, by implication, in other parts of the central nervous system.

Molecular diversity of Dscam: recognition of molecular identity in neuronal wiring

Our understanding of how the enormously complex task of interconnecting millions of nerve cells is accomplished remains rudimentary. What molecular mechanisms control its exquisite specificity? Can we pinpoint single molecular interactions that might help to explain some of the specificity requirements that underlie neuronal wiring? A series of recent studies on the molecular diversity of the Drosophila melanogaster cell-surface receptor Down syndrome cell-adhesion molecule (Dscam) provide one exceptional example of a novel mechanistic model of neuronal-wiring specificity, progressing from structural studies of single protein-protein interactions to biochemical analysis in vitro and to an understanding of complex neuronal differentiation at the single-cell or tissue levels.

A vast repertoire of Dscam binding specificities arises from modular interactions of variable Ig domains

Dscam encodes a family of cell surface proteins required for establishing neural circuits in Drosophila. Alternative splicing of Drosophila Dscam can generate 19,008 distinct extracellular domains containing different combinations of three variable immunoglobulin domains. To test the binding properties of many Dscam isoforms, we developed a high-throughput ELISA-based binding assay. We provide evidence that 95% (>18,000) of Dscam isoforms exhibit striking isoform-specific homophilic binding. We demonstrate that each of the three variable domains binds to the same variable domain in an opposing isoform and identify the structural elements that mediate this self-binding of each domain. These studies demonstrate that self-binding domains can assemble in different combinations to generate an enormous family of homophilic binding proteins. We propose that this vast repertoire of Dscam recognition molecules is sufficient to provide each neuron with a unique identity and homotypic binding specificity, thereby allowing neuronal processes to distinguish between self and nonself.

Dscam diversity is essential for neuronal wiring and self-recognition

Neurons are thought to use diverse families of cell-surface molecules for cell recognition during circuit assembly. In Drosophila, alternative splicing of the Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam) gene potentially generates 38,016 closely related transmembrane proteins of the immunoglobulin superfamily, each comprising one of 19,008 alternative ectodomains linked to one of two alternative transmembrane segments. These ectodomains show isoform-specific homophilic binding, leading to speculation that Dscam proteins mediate cell recognition. Genetic studies have established that Dscam is required for neural circuit assembly, but the extent to which isoform diversity contributes to this process is not known. Here we provide conclusive evidence that Dscam diversity is essential for circuit assembly. Using homologous recombination, we reduced the entire repertoire of Dscam ectodomains to just a single isoform. Neural circuits in these mutants are severely disorganized. Furthermore, we show that it is crucial for neighbouring neurons to express distinct isoforms, but that the specific identity of the isoforms expressed in an individual neuron is unimportant. We conclude that Dscam diversity provides each neuron with a unique identity by which it can distinguish its own processes from those of other neurons, and that this self-recognition is essential for wiring the Drosophila brain.

Molecular and cellular mechanisms of dendritic morphogenesis

Dendrites exhibit unique cell type-specific branching patterns and targeting specificity that are crucially important for neuronal function and connectivity. Recent evidence indicates that highly complex transcriptional regulatory networks dictate various aspects of dendritic outgrowth, branching, and routing. In addition to other intrinsic molecular pathways such as membrane protein trafficking, interactions between neighboring dendritic branches also contribute to the final specification of dendritic morphology. Nonredundant coverage by dendrites of same type of neurons, known as tiling, requires the actions of the Tricornered/Furry (Sax-1/Sax-2) signaling pathway. However, the dendrites of a neuron do not crossover each other, a process called self-avoidance that is mediated by Down's syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam). Those exciting findings have enhanced significantly our understanding of dendritic morphogenesis and revealed the magnitude of complexity in the underlying molecular regulatory networks.

Neuronal temporal identity in post-embryonic Drosophila brain

Understanding how a vast number of neuron types derive from a limited number of neural progenitors remains a major challenge in developmental neurobiology. In the post-embryonic Drosophila brain, specific neuron types derive from specific progenitors at specific times. This suggests involvement of time-dependent cell fate determinants acting as 'temporal codes' along with lineage cues to specify neuronal cell fates. Interestingly, such temporal codes might be provided not only by several regulators acting in sequence, but also by the differential protein levels of the BTB-zinc finger nuclear protein Chinmo. Identifying temporal codes and determining their origins should allow us to elucidate how neuronal diversification occurs through protracted neurogenesis.

Respective roles of the DRL receptor and its ligand WNT5 in Drosophila mushroom body development

In recent decades, Drosophila mushroom bodies (MBs) have become a powerful model for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying brain development and function. We have previously characterized the derailed (drl; also known as linotte) receptor tyrosine kinase as an essential component of adult MB development. Here we show, using MARCM clones, a non-cell-autonomous requirement for the DRL receptor in MB development. This result is in accordance with the pattern of DRL expression, which occurs throughout development close to, but not inside,MB cells. While DRL expression can be detected within both interhemispheric glial and commissural neuronal cells, rescue of the drl MB defects appears to involve the latter cellular type. The WNT5 protein has been shown to act as a repulsive ligand for the DRL receptor in the embryonic central nervous system. We show here that WNT5 is required intrinsically within MB neurons for proper MB axonal growth and probably interacts with the extrinsic DRL receptor in order to stop axonal growth. We therefore propose that the neuronal requirement for both proteins defines an interacting network acting during MB development.

Structural basis of Dscam isoform specificity

The Dscam gene gives rise to thousands of diverse cell surface receptors thought to provide homophilic and heterophilic recognition specificity for neuronal wiring and immune responses. Mutually exclusive splicing allows for the generation of sequence variability in three immunoglobulin ecto-domains, D2, D3 and D7. We report X-ray structures of the amino-terminal four immunoglobulin domains (D1-D4) of two distinct Dscam isoforms. The structures reveal a horseshoe configuration, with variable residues of D2 and D3 constituting two independent surface epitopes on either side of the receptor. Both isoforms engage in homo-dimerization coupling variable domain D2 with D2, and D3 with D3. These interactions involve symmetric, antiparallel pairing of identical peptide segments from epitope I that are unique to each isoform. Structure-guided mutagenesis and swapping of peptide segments confirm that epitope I, but not epitope II, confers homophilic binding specificity of full-length Dscam receptors. Phylogenetic analysis shows strong selection of matching peptide sequences only for epitope I. We propose that peptide complementarity of variable residues in epitope I of Dscam is essential for homophilic binding specificity.

Specific Drosophila Dscam juxtamembrane variants control dendritic elaboration and axonal arborization

Drosophila Dscam isoforms are derived from two alternative transmembrane/juxtamembrane domains (TMs) in addition to thousands of ectodomain variants. Using a microRNA-based RNA interference technology, we selectively knocked down different subsets of Dscams containing either the exon 17.1- or exon 17.2-encoding TM. Eliminating Dscam[TM1] reduced Dscam expression but minimally affected postembryonic axonal morphogenesis. In contrast, depleting Dscam[TM2] blocked axon arborization. Further removal of Dscam[TM1] enhanced the loss-of-Dscam[TM2] axonal phenotypes. However, Dscam[TM1] primarily regulates dendritic development, as evidenced by the observations that removing Dscam[TM1] alone impeded elaboration of dendrites and that transgenic Dscam[TM1], but not Dscam[TM2], effectively rescued Dscam mutant dendritic phenotypes in mosaic organisms. These distinct Dscam functions can be attributed to the juxtamembrane regions of TMs that govern dendritic versus axonal targeting of Dscam as well. Together, we suggest that specific Drosophila Dscam juxtamembrane variants control dendritic elaboration and axonal arborization.

Dscam2 mediates axonal tiling in the Drosophila visual system

Sensory processing centres in both the vertebrate and the invertebrate brain are often organized into reiterated columns, thus facilitating an internal topographic representation of the external world. Cells within each column are arranged in a stereotyped fashion and form precise patterns of synaptic connections within discrete layers. These connections are largely confined to a single column, thereby preserving the spatial information from the periphery. Other neurons integrate this information by connecting to multiple columns. Restricting axons to columns is conceptually similar to tiling. Axons and dendrites of neighbouring neurons of the same class use tiling to form complete, yet non-overlapping, receptive fields. It is thought that, at the molecular level, cell-surface proteins mediate tiling through contact-dependent repulsive interactions, but proteins serving this function have not yet been identified. Here we show that the immunoglobulin superfamily member Dscam2 restricts the connections formed by L1 lamina neurons to columns in the Drosophila visual system. Our data support a model in which Dscam2 homophilic interactions mediate repulsion between neurites of L1 cells in neighbouring columns. We propose that Dscam2 is a tiling receptor for L1 neurons.

Precise control of fasciclin II expression is required for adult mushroom body development in Drosophila

Fasciclin II (FASII) is a cell adhesion molecule that participates in axonal pathfinding, fasciculation and divergence in the Drosophila nervous system. Here, we examined spatio-temporal control of fasII expression during the development of adult mushroom body (MB) and found that suppression of fasII in alpha'/beta' neurons is essential for the formation of adult alpha'/beta' and alpha/beta lobes. Of gamma, alpha'/beta' and alpha/beta neurons, which are derived sequentially from the same four MB neuroblasts, only gamma and alpha/beta neurons expressed fasII. When fasII was misexpressed in developing MB neurons, defects resulted, including loss or misdirection of adult alpha'/beta' lobes and concurrent misdirection of alpha/beta lobes. Although no gross anatomical defects were apparent in the larval MB lobes, alpha'/beta' lobes collapsed at the pupal stage when the larval lobe of gamma neurons degenerated. In addition, alpha/beta lobes, which developed at this time, were misdirected in close relationship with the collapse of alpha'/beta' lobes. These defects did not occur when fasII was overexpressed in only gamma and alpha/beta neurons, indicating that ectopic expression of fasII in alpha'/beta' neurons is required for the defects. Our findings also suggest that the alpha'/beta' lobe play a role in guiding the pathfinding by alpha/beta axons.

Homophilic Dscam interactions control complex dendrite morphogenesis

Alternative splicing of the Drosophila gene Dscam results in up to 38,016 different receptor isoforms proposed to interact by isoform-specific homophilic binding. We report that Dscam controls cell-intrinsic aspects of dendrite guidance in all four classes of dendrite arborization (da) neurons. Loss of Dscam in single neurons causes a strong increase in self-crossing. Restriction of dendritic fields of neighboring class III neurons appeared intact in mutant neurons, suggesting that dendritic self-avoidance, but not heteroneuronal tiling, may depend on Dscam. Overexpression of the same Dscam isoforms in two da neurons with overlapping dendritic fields forced a spatial segregation of the two fields, supporting the model that dendritic branches of da neurons use isoform-specific homophilic interactions to ensure minimal overlap. Homophilic binding of the highly diverse extracellular domains of Dscam may therefore limit the use of the same "core" repulsion mechanism to cell-intrinsic interactions without interfering with heteroneuronal interactions.

Drosophila sensory neurons require Dscam for dendritic self-avoidance and proper dendritic field organization

A neuron's dendrites typically do not cross one another. This intrinsic self-avoidance mechanism ensures unambiguous processing of sensory or synaptic inputs. Moreover, some neurons respect the territory of others of the same type, a phenomenon known as tiling. Different types of neurons, however, often have overlapping dendritic fields. We found that Down's syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule (Dscam) is required for dendritic self-avoidance of all four classes of Drosophila dendritic arborization (da) neurons. However, neighboring mutant class IV da neurons still exhibited tiling, suggesting that self-avoidance and tiling differ in their recognition and repulsion mechanisms. Introducing 1 of the 38,016 Dscam isoforms to da neurons in Dscam mutants was sufficient to significantly restore self-avoidance. Remarkably, expression of a common Dscam isoform in da neurons of different classes prevented their dendrites from sharing the same territory, suggesting that coexistence of dendritic fields of different neuronal classes requires divergent expression of Dscam isoforms.

Dendrite self-avoidance is controlled by Dscam

Dendrites distinguish between sister branches and those of other cells. Self-recognition can often lead to repulsion, a process termed "self-avoidance." Here we demonstrate that dendrite self-avoidance in Drosophila da sensory neurons requires cell-recognition molecules encoded by the Dscam locus. By alternative splicing, Dscam encodes a vast number of cell-surface proteins of the immunoglobulin superfamily. We demonstrate that interactions between identical Dscam isoforms on the cell surface underlie self-recognition, while the cytoplasmic tail converts this recognition to dendrite repulsion. Sister dendrites expressing the same isoforms engage in homophilic repulsion. By contrast, Dscam diversity ensures that inappropriate repulsive interactions between dendrites sharing the same receptive field do not occur. The selectivity of Dscam-mediated cell interactions is likely to be widely important in the developing fly nervous system, where processes of cells must distinguish between self and nonself during the construction of neural circuits.

Dscam and neuronal uniqueness

In the fruit fly Drosophila the gene encoding the cell adhesion molecule Dscam generates alternatively spliced mRNAs that can be translated into thousands of different protein isoforms. Three recent papers show that isoform-specific homophilic Dscam interactions cause dendritic branches of the same neuron to avoid each other (Hughes et al., 2007; Soba et al., 2007; Matthews et al., 2007). This process ensures the correct patterning of dendrites in the peripheral nervous system.

A honey bee Dscam family member, AbsCAM, is a brain-specific cell adhesion molecule with the neurite outgrowth activity which influences neuronal wiring during development

The immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) has been indicated as functioning in the development and maintenance of nervous systems through cell-cell recognition and communication in several model invertebrates, Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. To further explore the functions of the IgSF in the brain of an invertebrate with more complex behavior, we identified and characterized a novel brain-specific Dscam family member, AbsCAM, from honey bee (Apis mellifera). The level of the AbsCAM protein was high in newly hatched bees and was dramatically reduced with age. The AbsCAM protein level was constant among worker bees of the same age performing different tasks, suggesting that it was primarily determined by age and not task in adult brains. Two different AbsCAM transcripts (AbsCAM-Ig7A and B) were generated by the alternative splicing of exon 11 encoding immunoglobulin domain 7 in an age-dependent manner. AbsCAM was expressed in the major brain neuropils where the synaptic density was high. AbsCAM can mediate the isoform-specific homophilic cell adhesion in vitro, and affected the axonal projections in Drosophila embryonic central nervous system and adult mushroom body by ectopic expression. Furthermore, AbsCAM promoted the neurite outgrowth of cultured neurons isolated from honey bee pupal brains. These results thus suggest that AbsCAM is the first honey bee IgSF implicated as functioning in neuronal wiring during honey bee brain development.

Complex alternative splicing

Alternative splicing is a powerful means of controlling gene expression and increasing protein diversity. Most genes express a limited number of mRNA isoforms, but there are several examples of genes that use alternative splicing to generate hundreds, thousands and even tens of thousands of isoforms. Collectively such genes are considered to undergo complex alternative splicing. The best example is the Drosophila Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam) gene, which can generate 38,016 isoforms by the alternative splicing of 95 variable exons. In this review, we will describe several genes that use complex alternative splicing to generate large repertoires of mRNAs and what is known about the mechanisms by which they do so.

Bchs, a BEACH domain protein, antagonizes Rab11 in synapse morphogenesis and other developmental events

BEACH proteins, an evolutionarily conserved family characterized by the presence of a BEACH (Beige and Chédiak-Higashi) domain, have been implicated in membrane trafficking, but how they interact with the membrane trafficking machinery is unknown. Here we show that the Drosophila BEACH protein Bchs (Blue cheese) acts during development as an antagonist of Rab11, a small GTPase involved in vesicle trafficking. We find that reduction in, or loss of, bchs function restores viability and normal bristle development in animals with reduced rab11 function, while reductions in rab11 function exacerbate defects caused by bchs overexpression in the eye. Consistent with a role for Bchs in modulating Rab11-dependent trafficking, Bchs protein is associated with vesicles and extensively colocalized with Rab11 at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). At the NMJ, we find that rab11 is important for synaptic morphogenesis, as reductions in rab11 function cause increases in bouton density and branching. These defects are also suppressed by loss of bchs. Taken together, these data identify Bchs as an antagonist of Rab11 during development and uncover a role for these regulators of vesicle trafficking in synaptic morphogenesis. This raises the interesting possibility that Bchs and other BEACH proteins may regulate vesicle traffic via interactions with Rab GTPases.

Wiring specificity: axon-dendrite matching refines the olfactory map

In Drosophila, about 50 classes of olfactory receptor neurons enter the brain where their axons form highly specific synapses with the dendrites of identified partner neurons. A recent study has shown that genetic manipulations that shift the position of one class of postsynaptic dendrites can cause an exact corresponding shift in the location of their partner axons.

Got diversity? Wiring the fly brain with Dscam

The Drosophila gene Dscam, encoding Down syndrome cell-adhesion molecule, is required for the development of neural circuits. Alternative splicing of Dscam mRNA potentially generates 38016 isoforms of a cell-surface recognition protein of the immunoglobulin superfamily. These isoforms include 19008 different ectodomains joined to one of two alternative transmembrane segments. Each ectodomain comprises a unique combination of three variable immunoglobulin domains. Biochemical studies support a model in which each isoform preferentially binds to the same isoform on opposing cell surfaces. This homophilic binding requires matching at all three variable immunoglobulin domains. These findings raise the intriguing possibility that specificity of binding by the Dscam isoforms mediates cell-surface recognition events required for wiring the fly brain.

Structure and function of primitive immunoglobulin superfamily neural cell adhesion molecules: a lesson from studies on planarian

Precise wiring and proper remodeling of the neural network are essential for its normal function. The freshwater planarian is an attractive animal in which to study the formation and maintenance of the neural network due to its high regenerative capability and developmental plasticity. Although a recent study revealed that homologs of netrin and its receptors are required for regeneration and maintenance of the planarian central nervous system (CNS), the roles of cell adhesion in the formation and maintenance of the planarian neural network remain poorly understood. In the present study, we found primitive immunoglobulin superfamily cell adhesion molecules (IgCAMs) in a planarian that are homologous to vertebrate neural IgCAMs. We identified planarian orthologs of NCAM, L1CAM, contactin and DSCAM, and designated them DjCAM, DjLCAM, DjCTCAM and DjDSCAM, respectively. We further confirmed that they function as cell adhesion molecules using cell aggregation assays. DjCAM and DjDSCAM were found to be differentially expressed in the CNS. Functional analyses using RNA interference revealed that DjCAM is partly involved in axon formation, and that DjDSCAM plays crucial roles in neuronal cell migration, axon outgrowth, fasciculation and projection.

Drosophila Eph receptor guides specific axon branches of mushroom body neurons

The conserved Eph receptors and their Ephrin ligands regulate a number of developmental processes, including axon guidance. In contrast to the large vertebrate Eph/Ephrin family, Drosophila has a single Eph receptor and a single Ephrin ligand, both of which are expressed within the developing nervous system. Here, we show that Eph and Ephrin can act as a functional receptor-ligand pair in vivo. Surprisingly, and in contrast to previous results using RNA-interference techniques, embryos completely lacking Eph function show no obvious axon guidance defects. However, Eph/Ephrin signaling is required for proper development of the mushroom body. In wild type, mushroom body neurons bifurcate and extend distinct branches to different target areas. In Eph mutants, these neurons bifurcate normally, but in many cases the dorsal branch fails to project to its appropriate target area. Thus, Eph/Ephrin signaling acts to guide a subset of mushroom body branches to their correct synaptic targets.

Descrambling Dscam diversity

Neuronal processes exhibit exquisitely complex branching patterns crucial for the formation of distinct neural circuits. In this issue of Cell, Chen et al. (2006) show that the isoform diversity of the Dscam protein in Drosophila is required to establish stereotypical axonal branching patterns, suggesting that nonrandom expression of Dscam alternative splice variants determines neural connectivity.

The Molecular Diversity of Dscam Is Functionally Required for Neuronal Wiring Specificity in Drosophila

Alternative splicing of Dscam generates an enormous molecular diversity with maximally 38,016 different receptors. Whether this large diversity is required in vivo is currently unclear. We examined the role of Dscam in neuron-target recognition of single mechanosensory neurons, which connect with different target cells through multiple axonal branches. Analysis of Dscam null neurons demonstrated an essential role of Dscam for growth and directed extension of axon branches. Expression of randomly chosen single isoforms could not rescue connectivity but did restore basic axonal extension and rudimentary branching. Moreover, two Dscam alleles were generated that each reduced the maximally possible Dscam diversity to 22,176 isoforms. Reduction of Dscam diversity resulted in specific connectivity defects of mechanosensory neurons. Furthermore, the observed allele-specific phenotypes suggest functional differences among isoforms. Our findings provide evidence that a very large number of structurally unique receptor isoforms is required to ensure fidelity and precision of neuronal connectivity.

Genetic mosaic with dual binary transcriptional systems in Drosophila

MARCM (mosaic analysis with a repressible cell marker) involves specific labeling of GAL80-minus and GAL4-positive homozygous cells in otherwise heterozygous tissues. Here we demonstrate how the concurrent use of two independent binary transcriptional systems may facilitate complex MARCM studies in the Drosophila nervous system. By fusing LexA with the VP16 acidic activation domain (VP16) or the GAL4 activation domain (GAD), we obtained both GAL80-insensitive and GAL80-suppressible transcriptional factors. LexA::VP16 can mediate MARCM-independent binary transgene induction in mosaic organisms. The incorporation of LexA::GAD into MARCM, which we call dual-expression-control MARCM, permits the induction of distinct transgenes in different patterns among GAL80-minus cells in mosaic tissues. Lineage analysis with dual-expression-control MARCM suggested the presence of neuroglioblasts in the developing optic lobes but did not indicate the production of glia by postembryonic mushroom body neuronal precursors. In addition, dual-expression-control MARCM with a ubiquitous LexA::GAD driver revealed many unidentified cells in the GAL4-GH146-positive projection neuron lineages.

Steroid hormone-dependent transformation ofpolyhomeoticmutant neurons in theDrosophilabrain

Polyhomeotic (Ph), which forms complexes with other Polycomb-group (PcG)proteins, is widely required for maintenance of cell identity by ensuring differential gene expression patterns in distinct types of cells. Genetic mosaic screens in adult fly brains allow for recovery of a mutation that simultaneously disrupts the tandemly duplicated Drosophila phtranscriptional units. Distinct clones of neurons normally acquire different characteristic projection patterns and can be differentially labeled using various subtype-specific drivers in mosaic brains. Such neuronal diversity is lost without Ph. In response to ecdysone, ph mutant neurons are transformed into cells with unidentifiable projection patterns and indistinguishable gene expression profiles during early metamorphosis. Some subtype-specific neuronal drivers become constitutively activated, while others are constantly suppressed. By contrast, loss of other PcG proteins,including Pc and E(z), causes different neuronal developmental defects; and,consistent with these phenomena, distinct Hox genes are differentially misexpressed in different PcG mutant clones. Taken together, Drosophila Ph is essential for governing neuronal diversity,especially during steroid hormone signaling.

The development of neuronal morphology in insects

Neurons are highly polarized cells with some regions specified for information input--typically the dendrites--and others specialized for information output--the axons. By extending to a specific location and branching in a specific manner, the processes of neurons determine at a fundamental level how the nervous system is wired to produce behavior. Recent studies suggest that relatively small changes in neuronal morphology could conceivably contribute to striking behavioral distinctions between invertebrate species. We review recent data that begin to shed light on how neurons extend dendrites to their targets and acquire their particular branching morphologies, drawing primarily on data from genetic model organisms. We speculate about how and why the actions of these genes might facilitate the diversification of dendritic morphology.

Requirement of Cul3 for axonal arborization and dendritic elaboration in Drosophila mushroom body neurons

Cul3 belongs to the family of cullin proteins, which function as scaffold proteins of E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes. Here we show cell-autonomous involvement of Cul3 in axonal arborization and dendritic elaboration of Drosophila mushroom body neurons. Cul3 mutant neurons are defective in terminal morphogenesis of neurites. Interestingly, mutant axons often terminate around branching points. In addition, dendritic elaboration is severely affected in Cul3 mutant neurons. However, loss of Cul3 function does not affect extension of the axons that rarely arborize. Function of cullin-type proteins has been shown to require covalent attachment of Nedd8 (neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally downregulated), a ubiquitin-like protein. Consistent with this notion, Cul3 is inactivated by a mutation in its conserved neddylation site, and Nedd8 mutant neurons exhibit similar neuronal morphogenetic defects. Together, Cul3 plays an essential role in both axonal arborization and proper elaboration of dendrites and may require neddylation for its proper function.

Dendritic patterning by Dscam and synaptic partner matching in the Drosophila antennal lobe

In the olfactory system of Drosophila melanogaster, axons of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) and dendrites of second-order projection neurons typically target 1 of approximately 50 glomeruli. Dscam, an immunoglobulin superfamily protein, acts in ORNs to regulate axon targeting. Here we show that Dscam acts in projection neurons and local interneurons to control the elaboration of dendritic fields. The removal of Dscam selectively from projection neurons or local interneurons led to clumped dendrites and marked reduction in their dendritic field size. Overexpression of Dscam in projection neurons caused dendrites to be more diffuse during development and shifted their relative position in adulthood. Notably, the positional shift of projection neuron dendrites caused a corresponding shift of its partner ORN axons, thus maintaining the connection specificity. This observation provides evidence for a pre- and postsynaptic matching mechanism independent of precise glomerular positioning.

Baboon/dSmad2 TGF-beta signaling is required during late larval stage for development of adult-specific neurons

The intermingling of larval functional neurons with adult-specific neurons during metamorphosis contributes to the development of the adult Drosophila brain. To better understand this process, we characterized the development of a dorsal cluster (DC) of Atonal-positive neurons that are born at early larval stages but do not undergo extensive morphogenesis until pupal formation. We found that Baboon(Babo)/dSmad2-mediated TGF-beta signaling, known to be essential for remodeling of larval functional neurons, is also indispensable for proper morphogenesis of these adult-specific neurons. Mosaic analysis reveals slowed development of mutant DC neurons, as evidenced by delays in both neuronal morphogenesis and atonal expression. We observe similar phenomena in other adult-specific neurons. We further demonstrate that Babo/dSmad2 operates autonomously in individual neurons and specifically during the late larval stage. Our results suggest that Babo/dSmad2 signaling prior to metamorphosis may be widely required to prepare neurons for the dynamic environment present during metamorphosis.

The iStem, a long-range RNA secondary structure element required for efficient exon inclusion in the Drosophila Dscam pre-mRNA

The Drosophila Dscam gene encodes 38,016 different proteins, due to alternative splicing of 95 of its 115 exons, that function in axon guidance and innate immunity. The alternative exons are organized into four clusters, and the exons within each cluster are spliced in a mutually exclusive manner. Here we describe an evolutionarily conserved RNA secondary structure we call the Inclusion Stem (iStem) that is required for efficient inclusion of all 12 variable exons in the exon 4 cluster. Although the iStem governs inclusion or exclusion of the entire exon 4 cluster, it does not play a significant role in determining which variable exon is selected. Thus, the iStem is a novel type of regulatory element that simultaneously controls the splicing of multiple alternative exons.

Central and peripheral axon branches from one neuron are guided differentially by Semaphorin3D and transient axonal glycoprotein-1

For multiple axons from one neuron to extend in different directions to unique targets, the growth cones of each axon must have distinct responses to guidance cues. However, the mechanisms by which separate axon branches are guided along different pathways are mainly unknown. Zebrafish Rohon-Beard (R-B) sensory neurons extend central axon branches in the spinal cord and peripheral axons to the epidermis. To investigate the differential guidance mechanisms of the central versus peripheral R-B axon branches, we used live-growth cone imaging in vivo combined with manipulation of individual guidance molecules. We show that a semaphorin expressed at the dorsal spinal cord midline, Semaphorin3D (Sema3D), may act to repel the peripheral axons out of the spinal cord. Sema3D knock-down reduces the number of peripheral axons. Remarkably, Sema3D ectopic expression repels and induces branching of peripheral axons in vivo but has no effect on central axons from the same neurons. Conversely, central axons require a growth-promoting molecule, transient axonal glycoprotein-1 (TAG-1), to advance, whereas peripheral axons do not. After TAG-1 knock-down, central growth cones display extensive protrusive activity but make little forward advance. TAG-1 knock-down has no effect on the motility or advance of peripheral growth cones. These experiments show how Sema3D and TAG-1 regulate the motility and behavior of growth cones extending in their natural in vivo environment and demonstrate that two different axon branches from one neuron respond differently to guidance cues in vivo.

Drosophila central brain formation requires Robo proteins

The Robo proteins have been extensively studied in the Drosophila embryonic ventral nerve cord, in which their expression level controls the midline crossing and optic lobe formation, but nothing is known about their activities during adult central brain formation. We have analyzed how Robo guidance cues influence central complex (CX) and mushroom body (MB) formation. Mutations of robo2 and robo3 confer a series of strong MB and CX defects. We found that the Robo2 and Robo3 proteins are expressed in two structures of the developing CX, the fan-shaped body (FB) and the noduli (NO), and by fibers across the central neuropile. We conclude that the Robo2 and Robo3 receptors play postembryonic roles during central brain formation.

The zebrafish down syndrome cell adhesion molecule is involved in cell movement during embryogenesis

The Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam) is a protein overexpressed in the brains of Down syndrome patients and implicated in mental retardation. Dscam is involved in axon guidance and branching in Drosophila, but cellular roles in vertebrates have yet to be elucidated. To understand its role in vertebrate development, we cloned the zebrafish homolog of Dscam and showed that it shares high amino acid identity and structure with the mammalian homologs. Zebrafish dscam is highly expressed in developing neurons, similar to what has been described in Drosophila and mouse. When dscam expression is diminished by morpholino injection, embryos display few neurons and their axons do not enter stereotyped pathways. Zebrafish dscam is also present at early embryonic stages including blastulation and gastrulation. Its loss results in early morphogenetic defects. dscam knockdown results in impaired cell movement during epiboly as well as in subsequent stages. We propose that migrating cells utilize dscam to remodel the developing embryo.

PDZ-containing proteins: alternative splicing as a source of functional diversity

Scaffold proteins allow specific protein complexes to be assembled in particular regions of the cell at which they organize subcellular structures and signal transduction complexes. This characteristic is especially important for neurons, which are highly polarized cells. Among the domains contained by scaffold proteins, the PSD-95, Discs-large, ZO-1 (PDZ) domains are of particular relevance in signal transduction processes and maintenance of neuronal and epithelial polarity. These domains are specialized in the binding of the carboxyl termini of proteins allowing membrane proteins to be localized by the anchoring to the cytoskeleton mediated by PDZ-containing scaffold proteins. In vivo studies carried out in Drosophila have taught that the role of many scaffold proteins is not limited to a single process; thus, in many cases the same genes are expressed in different tissues and participate in apparently very diverse processes. In addition to the differential expression of interactors of scaffold proteins, the expression of variants of these molecular scaffolds as the result of the alternative processing of the genes that encode them is proving to be a very important source of variability and complexity on a main theme. Alternative splicing in the nervous system is well documented, where specific isoforms play roles in neurotransmission, ion channel function, neuronal cell recognition, and are developmentally regulated making it a major mechanism of functional diversity. Here we review the current state of knowledge about the diversity and the known function of PDZ-containing proteins in Drosophila with emphasis in the role played by alternatively processed forms in the diversity of functions attributed to this family of proteins.

Flipping Coins in the Fly Retina

Color vision in Drosophila melanogaster relies on the presence of two different subtypes of ommatidia: the "green" and "blue." These two classes are distributed randomly throughout the retina. The decision of a given ommatidium to take on the "green" or "blue" fate seems to be based on a stochastic mechanism. Here we compare the stochastic choice of photoreceptors in the fly retina with other known examples of random choices in both sensory and other systems.

Analysis of Dscam diversity in regulating axon guidance in Drosophila mushroom bodies

Dscam is an immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily member that regulates axon guidance and targeting in Drosophila. Alternative splicing potentially generates 38,016 isoforms differing in their extracellular Ig and transmembrane domains. We demonstrate that Dscam mediates the sorting of axons in the developing mushroom body (MB). This correlates with the precise spatiotemporal pattern of Dscam protein expression. We demonstrate that MB neurons express different arrays of Dscam isoforms and that single MB neurons express multiple isoforms. Two different Dscam isoforms differing in their extracellular domains introduced as transgenes into single mutant cells partially rescued the mutant phenotype. Expression of one isoform of Dscam in a cohort of MB neurons induced dominant phenotypes, while expression of a single isoform in a single cell did not. We propose that different extracellular domains of Dscam share a common function and that differences in isoforms expressed on the surface of neighboring axons influence interactions between them.

Alternative splicing of Drosophila Dscam generates axon guidance receptors that exhibit isoform-specific homophilic binding

Dscam is an immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily protein required for the formation of neuronal connections in Drosophila. Through alternative splicing, Dscam potentially gives rise to 19,008 different extracellular domains linked to one of two alternative transmembrane segments, resulting in 38,016 isoforms. All isoforms share the same domain structure but contain variable amino acid sequences within three Ig domains in the extracellular region. We demonstrate that different isoforms exhibit different binding specificity. Each isoform binds to itself but does not bind or binds poorly to other isoforms. The amino acid sequences of all three variable Ig domains determine binding specificity. Even closely related isoforms sharing nearly identical amino acid sequences exhibit isoform-specific binding. We propose that this preferential homophilic binding specificity regulates interactions between cells and contributes to the formation of complex patterns of neuronal connections.

Genetic mosaic analysis in the nervous system

Genetic mosaic techniques provide a powerful tool for dissecting gene function in the intricate genetic networks that underlie the formation and function of nervous systems. For instance, it is possible to make individual cells or groups of cells homozygous for mutations of interest at specific points during an organism's development. It is also possible to resolve lineage relationships and to characterize cellular morphology and connectivity. Current techniques for creating genetically mosaic organisms incorporate improved controls over clone induction, identification, and/or mosaic tissue characterization.

Generation of Recognition Diversity in the Nervous System

For decades, it has been suggested that complex neural wiring might be specified by extensive diversity in receptor isoforms. Dscam is a cell surface protein with 38,016 potential alternatively spliced isoforms in the fly nervous system. Remarkable binding studies now show that Dscam isoform diversity indeed results in an unprecedented level of recognition diversity, showing isoform-specific homophilic binding. In vivo studies have begun to suggest models for use of Dscam diversity in neuron-target recognition, axon fasciculation, and neuron self-recognition.

The organization and evolution of the dipteran and hymenopteran Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam) genes

The Drosophila melanogaster Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam) gene encodes an axon guidance receptor and can generate 38,016 different isoforms via the alternative splicing of 95 variable exons. Dscam contains 10 immunoglobulin (Ig), six Fibronectin type III, a transmembrane (TM), and cytoplasmic domains. The different Dscam isoforms vary in the amino acid sequence of three of the Ig domains and the TM domain. Here, we have compared the organization of the Dscam gene from three members of the Drosophila subgenus (D. melanogaster, D. pseudoobscura, and D. virilis), the mosquito Anopheles gambiae, and the honeybee Apis mellifera. Each of these organisms contains numerous alternative exons and can potentially synthesize tens of thousands of isoforms. Interestingly, most of the alternative exons in one species are more similar to one another than to the corresponding alternative exons in the other species. These observations provide strong evidence that many of the alternative exons have arisen by reiterative exon duplication and deletion events. In addition, these findings suggest that the expression of a large Dscam repertoire is more important for the development and function of the insect nervous system than the actual sequence of each isoform.

Transmembrane/Juxtamembrane Domain-Dependent Dscam Distribution and Function during Mushroom Body Neuronal Morphogenesis

Besides 19,008 possible ectodomains, Drosophila Dscam contains two alternative transmembrane/juxtamembrane segments, respectively, derived from exon 17.1 and exon 17.2. We wondered whether specific Dscam isoforms mediate formation and segregation of axonal branches in the Drosophila mushroom bodies (MBs). Removal of various subsets of the 12 exon 4s does not affect MB neuronal morphogenesis, while expression of a Dscam transgene only partially rescues Dscam mutant phenotypes. Interestingly, differential rescuing effects are observed between two Dscam transgenes that each possesses one of the two possible exon 17s. Axon bifurcation/segregation abnormalities are better rescued by the exon 17.2-containing transgene, but coexpression of both transgenes is required for rescuing mutant viability. Meanwhile, exon 17.1 targets ectopically expressed Dscam-GFP to dendrites while Dscam[exon 17.2]-GFP is enriched in axons; only Dscam[exon 17.2] affects MB axons. These results suggest that exon 17.1 is minimally involved in axonal morphogenesis and that morphogenesis of MB axons probably involves multiple distinct exon 17.2-containing Dscam isoforms.