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Frasch M, Ismat A, Reim I, Raufer J. The RNF220 domain nuclear factor Teyrha-Meyrha (Tey) regulates the migration and differentiation of specific visceral and somatic muscles in Drosophila. Development 2023; 150:dev201457. [PMID: 37642089 PMCID: PMC10508689 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Development of the visceral musculature of the Drosophila midgut encompasses a closely coordinated sequence of migration events of cells from the trunk and caudal visceral mesoderm that underlies the formation of the stereotypic orthogonal pattern of circular and longitudinal midgut muscles. Our study focuses on the last step of migration and morphogenesis of longitudinal visceral muscle precursors and shows that these multinucleated precursors utilize dynamic filopodial extensions to migrate in dorsal and ventral directions over the forming midgut tube. The establishment of maximal dorsoventral distances from one another, and anteroposterior alignments, lead to the equidistant coverage of the midgut with longitudinal muscle fibers. We identify Teyrha-Meyhra (Tey), a tissue-specific nuclear factor related to the RNF220 domain protein family, as a crucial regulator of this process of muscle migration and morphogenesis that is further required for proper differentiation of longitudinal visceral muscles. In addition, Tey is expressed in a single somatic muscle founder cell in each hemisegment, regulates the migration of this founder cell, and is required for proper pathfinding of its developing myotube to specific myotendinous attachment sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfred Frasch
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Department of Biology, Division of Developmental Biology, Staudtstrasse 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Afshan Ismat
- Department of Biology, University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, MN 55105, USA
| | - Ingolf Reim
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Department of Biology, Division of Developmental Biology, Staudtstrasse 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jasmin Raufer
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Department of Biology, Division of Developmental Biology, Staudtstrasse 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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2
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Wang Y, Lobb-Rabe M, Ashley J, Chatterjee P, Anand V, Bellen HJ, Kanca O, Carrillo RA. Systematic expression profiling of Dpr and DIP genes reveals cell surface codes in Drosophila larval motor and sensory neurons. Development 2022; 149:dev200355. [PMID: 35502740 PMCID: PMC9188756 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
In complex nervous systems, neurons must identify their correct partners to form synaptic connections. The prevailing model to ensure correct recognition posits that cell-surface proteins (CSPs) in individual neurons act as identification tags. Thus, knowing what cells express which CSPs would provide insights into neural development, synaptic connectivity, and nervous system evolution. Here, we investigated expression of Dpr and DIP genes, two CSP subfamilies belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily, in Drosophila larval motor neurons (MNs), muscles, glia and sensory neurons (SNs) using a collection of GAL4 driver lines. We found that Dpr genes are more broadly expressed than DIP genes in MNs and SNs, and each examined neuron expresses a unique combination of Dpr and DIP genes. Interestingly, many Dpr and DIP genes are not robustly expressed, but are found instead in gradient and temporal expression patterns. In addition, the unique expression patterns of Dpr and DIP genes revealed three uncharacterized MNs. This study sets the stage for exploring the functions of Dpr and DIP genes in Drosophila MNs and SNs and provides genetic access to subsets of neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yupu Wang
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Cellular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Committee on Development, Regeneration, and Stem Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Meike Lobb-Rabe
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Cellular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - James Ashley
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Cellular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Purujit Chatterjee
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Cellular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Veera Anand
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Cellular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Hugo J. Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics and Jan and Dan Duncan Neurobiological Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Oguz Kanca
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics and Jan and Dan Duncan Neurobiological Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Robert A. Carrillo
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Cellular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Committee on Development, Regeneration, and Stem Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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3
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Hamilton WC, Stolarska MA, Ismat A. Simulation and in vivo experimentation predict AdamTS-A location of function during caudal visceral mesoderm (CVM) migration in Drosophila. Dev Dyn 2022; 251:1123-1137. [PMID: 35023238 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Caudal visceral mesoderm (CVM) cells migrate as a loose collective along the trunk visceral mesoderm (TVM) and are surrounded by extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we examined how one extracellular protease, AdamTS-A, facilitates CVM migration. RESULTS A comparison of mathematical simulation to experimental results suggests that location of AdamTS-A action in CVM cells is on the sides of the cell not in contact with the TVM, predominantly at the CVM-ECM interface. CVM migration from a top-down view showed CVM cells migrating along the outside of the TVM substrate in the absence of AdamTS-A. Moreover, over-expression of AdamTS-A resulted in similar, but milder, mis-migration of the CVM. These results contrast with the salivary gland where AdamTS-A is proposed to cleave connections at the trailing edge of migrating cells. Subcellular localization of GFP-tagged AdamTS-A suggests this protease is not limited to functioning at the trailing edge of CVM cells. CONCLUSION Using both in vivo experimentation and mathematical simulations, we demonstrated that AdamTS-A cleaves connections between CVM cells and the ECM on all sides not attached to the TVM. Clearly, AdamTS-A has a more expansive role around the entire cell in cleaving cell-ECM attachments in cells migrating as a loose collective. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Afshan Ismat
- Department of Biology, University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, MN
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4
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Berke B, Le L, Keshishian H. Target-dependent retrograde signaling mediates synaptic plasticity at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. Dev Neurobiol 2020; 79:895-912. [PMID: 31950660 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Neurons that innervate multiple targets often establish synapses with target-specific strengths, and local forms of synaptic plasticity. We have examined the molecular-genetic mechanisms that allow a single Drosophila motoneuron, the ventral Common Exciter (vCE), to establish connections with target-specific properties at its various synaptic partners. By driving transgenes in a subset of vCE's targets, we found that individual target cells are able to independently control the properties of vCE's innervating branch and synapses. This is achieved by means of a trans-synaptic growth factor secreted by the target cell. At the larval neuromuscular junction, postsynaptic glutamate receptor activity stimulates the release of the BMP4/5/6 homolog Glass bottom boat (Gbb). As larvae mature and motoneuron terminals grow, Gbb activates the R-Smad transcriptional regulator phosphorylated Mad (pMad) to facilitate presynaptic development. We found that manipulations affecting glutamate receptors or Gbb within subsets of target muscles led to local effects either specific to the manipulated muscle or by a limited gradient within the presynaptic branches. While presynaptic development depends on pMad transcriptional activity within the motoneuron nucleus, we find that the Gbb growth factor may also act locally within presynaptic terminals. Local Gbb signaling and presynaptic pMad accumulation within boutons may therefore participate in a "synaptic tagging" mechanism, to influence synaptic growth and plasticity in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett Berke
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Department, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Linh Le
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Haig Keshishian
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Department, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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5
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Kim B. Evolutionarily conserved and divergent functions for cell adhesion molecules in neural circuit assembly. J Comp Neurol 2019; 527:2061-2068. [PMID: 30779135 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The developing nervous system generates remarkably precise synaptic connections between neurons and their postsynaptic target cells. Numerous neural cell adhesion proteins have been identified to mediate cell recognition between synaptic partners in several model organisms. Here, I review the role of protein interactions of cell adhesion molecules in neural circuit assembly and address how these interactions are utilized to form different neural circuitries in different species. The emerging evidence suggests that the extracellular trans-interactions of cell adhesion proteins for neural wiring are evolutionarily conserved across taxa, but they are often used in different steps of circuit assembly. I also highlight how these conserved protein interactions work together as a group to specify neural connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byunghyuk Kim
- Department of Life Science, Dongguk University Seoul, Goyang, Republic of Korea
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6
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Macabenta F, Stathopoulos A. Migrating cells control morphogenesis of substratum serving as track to promote directional movement of the collective. Development 2019; 146:dev.177295. [PMID: 31239242 DOI: 10.1242/dev.177295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In Drosophila embryos, caudal visceral mesoderm (CVM) cells undergo bilateral migration along the trunk visceral mesoderm (TVM) in order to form midgut muscles. Mutation of FGF receptor Heartless (Htl) has been shown to cause CVM migration defects, particularly midline crossing of the bilateral groups. Here, we show that htl mutants also exhibit TVM defects including contralateral merging. Both CVM mismigration and TVM contralateral merging are attenuated by restoring FGF signaling specifically in the CVM, suggesting that migrating CVM cells influence TVM morphogenesis; however, the inverse, supplying FGF to the TVM, does not rescue CVM mismigration. In addition, we show that FGF regulates integrin expression in both tissues, but only providing a source of integrin specifically to the TVM attenuates the contralateral merging phenotype. Finally, we demonstrate that the CVM influences cell shape in the TVM, and a loss of CVM results in TVM morphological defects. In summary, this study provides insight into how a migrating collective of cells can influence their tissue substrate and supports the view that morphogenesis of tissues during development is interdependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Macabenta
- California Institute of Technology, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Angelike Stathopoulos
- California Institute of Technology, Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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7
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Ulian-Benitez S, Bishop S, Foldi I, Wentzell J, Okenwa C, Forero MG, Zhu B, Moreira M, Phizacklea M, McIlroy G, Li G, Gay NJ, Hidalgo A. Kek-6: A truncated-Trk-like receptor for Drosophila neurotrophin 2 regulates structural synaptic plasticity. PLoS Genet 2017; 13:e1006968. [PMID: 28846707 PMCID: PMC5591008 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurotrophism, structural plasticity, learning and long-term memory in mammals critically depend on neurotrophins binding Trk receptors to activate tyrosine kinase (TyrK) signaling, but Drosophila lacks full-length Trks, raising the question of how these processes occur in the fly. Paradoxically, truncated Trk isoforms lacking the TyrK predominate in the adult human brain, but whether they have neuronal functions independently of full-length Trks is unknown. Drosophila has TyrK-less Trk-family receptors, encoded by the kekkon (kek) genes, suggesting that evolutionarily conserved functions for this receptor class may exist. Here, we asked whether Keks function together with Drosophila neurotrophins (DNTs) at the larval glutamatergic neuromuscular junction (NMJ). We tested the eleven LRR and Ig-containing (LIG) proteins encoded in the Drosophila genome for expression in the central nervous system (CNS) and potential interaction with DNTs. Kek-6 is expressed in the CNS, interacts genetically with DNTs and can bind DNT2 in signaling assays and co-immunoprecipitations. Ligand binding is promiscuous, as Kek-6 can also bind DNT1, and Kek-2 and Kek-5 can also bind DNT2. In vivo, Kek-6 is found presynaptically in motoneurons, and DNT2 is produced by the muscle to function as a retrograde factor at the NMJ. Kek-6 and DNT2 regulate NMJ growth and synaptic structure. Evidence indicates that Kek-6 does not antagonise the alternative DNT2 receptor Toll-6. Instead, Kek-6 and Toll-6 interact physically, and together regulate structural synaptic plasticity and homeostasis. Using pull-down assays, we identified and validated CaMKII and VAP33A as intracellular partners of Kek-6, and show that they regulate NMJ growth and active zone formation downstream of DNT2 and Kek-6. The synaptic functions of Kek-6 could be evolutionarily conserved. This raises the intriguing possibility that a novel mechanism of structural synaptic plasticity involving truncated Trk-family receptors independently of TyrK signaling may also operate in the human brain. A long-standing paradox had been to explain how brain structural plasticity, learning and long-term memory might occur in Drosophila in the absence of canonical Trk receptors for neurotrophin (NT) ligands. NTs link structure and function in the brain enabling adjustments in cell number, dendritic, axonal and synaptic patterns, in response to neuronal activity. These events are essential for brain development, learning and long-term memory, and are thought to depend on the tyrosine-kinase function of the NT Trk receptors. However, paradoxically, the most abundant Trk isoforms in the adult human brain lack the tyrosine kinase, and their neuronal function is unknown. Remarkably, Drosophila has kinase-less receptors of the Trk family encoded by the kekkon (kek) genes, suggesting that deep evolutionary functional conservation for this receptor class could be unveiled. Here, we show that Kek-6 is a receptor for Drosophila neurotrophin 2 (DNT2) that regulates structural synaptic plasticity via CaMKII and VAP33A. The latter are well-known factors regulating synaptic structure and plasticity and vesicle release. Furthemore, Kek-6 cooperates with the alternative DNT2 receptor Toll-6, and their concerted functions are required to regulate structural homeostasis at the NMJ. Our findings suggest that in mammals truncated Trk-family receptors could also have synaptic functions in neurons independently of Tyrosine kinase signaling. This might reveal a novel mechanism of brain plasticity, with important implications for understanding also the human brain, in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzana Ulian-Benitez
- NeuroDevelopment Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Bishop
- NeuroDevelopment Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Istvan Foldi
- NeuroDevelopment Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jill Wentzell
- NeuroDevelopment Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Chinenye Okenwa
- NeuroDevelopment Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Bangfu Zhu
- NeuroDevelopment Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Marta Moreira
- NeuroDevelopment Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Phizacklea
- NeuroDevelopment Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Graham McIlroy
- NeuroDevelopment Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Guiyi Li
- NeuroDevelopment Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J. Gay
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alicia Hidalgo
- NeuroDevelopment Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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8
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Hessinger C, Technau GM, Rogulja-Ortmann A. The Drosophila Hox gene Ultrabithorax acts in both muscles and motoneurons to orchestrate formation of specific neuromuscular connections. Development 2016; 144:139-150. [PMID: 27913640 PMCID: PMC5278631 DOI: 10.1242/dev.143875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Hox genes are known to specify motoneuron pools in the developing vertebrate spinal cord and to control motoneuronal targeting in several species. However, the mechanisms controlling axial diversification of muscle innervation patterns are still largely unknown. We present data showing that the Drosophila Hox gene Ultrabithorax (Ubx) acts in the late embryo to establish target specificity of ventrally projecting RP motoneurons. In abdominal segments A2 to A7, RP motoneurons innervate the ventrolateral muscles VL1-4, with VL1 and VL2 being innervated in a Wnt4-dependent manner. In Ubx mutants, these motoneurons fail to make correct contacts with muscle VL1, a phenotype partially resembling that of the Wnt4 mutant. We show that Ubx regulates expression of Wnt4 in muscle VL2 and that it interacts with the Wnt4 response pathway in the respective motoneurons. Ubx thus orchestrates the interaction between two cell types, muscles and motoneurons, to regulate establishment of the ventrolateral neuromuscular network. Summary: Ultrabithorax controls correct innervation of ventrolateral muscles by coordinating Wnt4 ligand expression in muscles with the signalling pathway response in motoneurons.
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9
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Lu CS, Zhai B, Mauss A, Landgraf M, Gygi S, Van Vactor D. MicroRNA-8 promotes robust motor axon targeting by coordinate regulation of cell adhesion molecules during synapse development. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 369:rstb.2013.0517. [PMID: 25135978 PMCID: PMC4142038 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal connectivity and specificity rely upon precise coordinated deployment of multiple cell-surface and secreted molecules. MicroRNAs have tremendous potential for shaping neural circuitry by fine-tuning the spatio-temporal expression of key synaptic effector molecules. The highly conserved microRNA miR-8 is required during late stages of neuromuscular synapse development in Drosophila. However, its role in initial synapse formation was previously unknown. Detailed analysis of synaptogenesis in this system now reveals that miR-8 is required at the earliest stages of muscle target contact by RP3 motor axons. We find that the localization of multiple synaptic cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) is dependent on the expression of miR-8, suggesting that miR-8 regulates the initial assembly of synaptic sites. Using stable isotope labelling in vivo and comparative mass spectrometry, we find that miR-8 is required for normal expression of multiple proteins, including the CAMs Fasciclin III (FasIII) and Neuroglian (Nrg). Genetic analysis suggests that Nrg and FasIII collaborate downstream of miR-8 to promote accurate target recognition. Unlike the function of miR-8 at mature larval neuromuscular junctions, at the embryonic stage we find that miR-8 controls key effectors on both sides of the synapse. MiR-8 controls multiple stages of synapse formation through the coordinate regulation of both pre- and postsynaptic cell adhesion proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia S Lu
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Bo Zhai
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alex Mauss
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Stephen Gygi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David Van Vactor
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
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10
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Weitkunat M, Schnorrer F. A guide to study Drosophila muscle biology. Methods 2014; 68:2-14. [PMID: 24625467 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2014.02.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Revised: 02/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/28/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The development and molecular composition of muscle tissue is evolutionarily conserved. Drosophila is a powerful in vivo model system to investigate muscle morphogenesis and function. Here, we provide a short and comprehensive overview of the important developmental steps to build Drosophila body muscle in embryos, larvae and pupae. We describe key methods, including muscle histology, live imaging and genetics, to study these steps at various developmental stages and include simple behavioural assays to assess muscle function in larvae and adults. We list valuable antibodies and fly strains that can be used for these different methods. This overview should guide the reader to choose the best marker or the appropriate method to obtain high quality muscle morphogenesis data in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Weitkunat
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Frank Schnorrer
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
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11
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Zarin AA, Asadzadeh J, Labrador JP. Transcriptional regulation of guidance at the midline and in motor circuits. Cell Mol Life Sci 2014; 71:419-32. [PMID: 23917723 PMCID: PMC11113760 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-013-1434-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2013] [Revised: 07/01/2013] [Accepted: 07/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Axon navigation through the developing body of an embryo is a challenging and exquisitely precise process. Axonal processes within the nervous system harbor extremely complicated internal regulatory mechanisms that enable each of them to respond to environmental cues in a unique way, so that every single neuron has an exact stereotypical localization and axonal projection pattern. Receptors and adhesion molecules expressed on axonal membranes will determine their guidance properties. Axon guidance is thought to be controlled to a large extent through transcription factor codes. These codes would be responsible for the deployment of specific guidance receptors and adhesion molecules on axonal membranes to allow them to reach their targets. Although families of transcriptional regulators as well as families of guidance molecules have been conserved across evolution, their relationships seem to have developed independently. This review focuses on the midline and the neuromuscular system in both vertebrates and Drosophila in which such relationships have been particularly well studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aref Arzan Zarin
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Jamshid Asadzadeh
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Juan-Pablo Labrador
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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12
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Hebbian plasticity guides maturation of glutamate receptor fields in vivo. Cell Rep 2013; 3:1407-13. [PMID: 23643532 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2013.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2012] [Revised: 03/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic plasticity shapes the development of functional neural circuits and provides a basis for cellular models of learning and memory. Hebbian plasticity describes an activity-dependent change in synaptic strength that is input-specific and depends on correlated pre- and postsynaptic activity. Although it is recognized that synaptic activity and synapse development are intimately linked, our mechanistic understanding of the coupling is far from complete. Using Channelrhodopsin-2 to evoke activity in vivo, we investigated synaptic plasticity at the glutamatergic Drosophila neuromuscular junction. Remarkably, correlated pre- and postsynaptic stimulation increased postsynaptic sensitivity by promoting synapse-specific recruitment of GluR-IIA-type glutamate receptor subunits into postsynaptic receptor fields. Conversely, GluR-IIA was rapidly removed from synapses whose activity failed to evoke substantial postsynaptic depolarization. Uniting these results with developmental GluR-IIA dynamics provides a comprehensive physiological concept of how Hebbian plasticity guides synaptic maturation and sparse transmitter release controls the stabilization of the molecular composition of individual synapses.
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13
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Ettensohn CA. Encoding anatomy: Developmental gene regulatory networks and morphogenesis. Genesis 2013; 51:383-409. [PMID: 23436627 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.22380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2012] [Revised: 02/06/2013] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charles A. Ettensohn
- Department of Biological Sciences; Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh; Pennsylvania
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14
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Kohsaka H, Okusawa S, Itakura Y, Fushiki A, Nose A. Development of larval motor circuits in Drosophila. Dev Growth Differ 2012; 54:408-19. [PMID: 22524610 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-169x.2012.01347.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
How are functional neural circuits formed during development? Despite recent advances in our understanding of the development of individual neurons, little is known about how complex circuits are assembled to generate specific behaviors. Here, we describe the ways in which Drosophila motor circuits serve as an excellent model system to tackle this problem. We first summarize what has been learned during the past decades on the connectivity and development of component neurons, in particular motor neurons and sensory feedback neurons. We then review recent progress in our understanding of the development of the circuits as well as studies that apply optogenetics and other innovative techniques to dissect the circuit diagram. New approaches using Drosophila as a model system are now making it possible to search for developmental rules that regulate the construction of neural circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kohsaka
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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15
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Reim I, Hollfelder D, Ismat A, Frasch M. The FGF8-related signals Pyramus and Thisbe promote pathfinding, substrate adhesion, and survival of migrating longitudinal gut muscle founder cells. Dev Biol 2012; 368:28-43. [PMID: 22609944 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2012] [Revised: 04/17/2012] [Accepted: 05/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) frequently fulfill prominent roles in the regulation of cell migration in various contexts. In Drosophila, the FGF8-like ligands Pyramus (Pyr) and Thisbe (Ths), which signal through their receptor Heartless (Htl), are known to regulate early mesodermal cell migration after gastrulation as well as glial cell migration during eye development. Herein, we show that Pyr and Ths also exert key roles during the long-distance migration of a specific sub-population of mesodermal cells that migrate from the caudal visceral mesoderm within stereotypic bilateral paths along the trunk visceral mesoderm toward the anterior. These cells constitute the founder myoblasts of the longitudinal midgut muscles. In a forward genetic screen for regulators of this morphogenetic process we identified loss of function alleles for pyr. We show that pyr and ths are expressed along the paths of migration in the trunk visceral mesoderm and endoderm and act largely redundantly to help guide the founder myoblasts reliably onto and along their substrate of migration. Ectopically-provided Pyr and Ths signals can efficiently re-rout the migrating cells, both in the presence and absence of endogenous signals. Our data indicate that the guidance functions of these FGFs must act in concert with other important attractive or adhesive activities of the trunk visceral mesoderm. Apart from their guidance functions, the Pyr and Ths signals play an obligatory role for the survival of the migrating cells. Without these signals, essentially all of these cells enter cell death and detach from the migration substrate during early migration. We present experiments that allowed us to dissect the roles of these FGFs as guidance cues versus trophic activities during the migration of the longitudinal visceral muscle founders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingolf Reim
- University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Department of Biology, Division of Developmental Biology, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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Nose A. Generation of neuromuscular specificity in Drosophila: novel mechanisms revealed by new technologies. Front Mol Neurosci 2012; 5:62. [PMID: 22586369 PMCID: PMC3347465 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2012.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2012] [Accepted: 04/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Drosophila larval neuromuscular system is one of the best-characterized model systems for axon targeting. In each abdominal hemisegment, only 36 identified motor neurons form synaptic connections with just 30 target muscles in a highly specific and stereotypic manner. Studies in the 1990s identified several cell-surface and secreted proteins that are expressed in specific muscles and contribute to target specificity. Emerging evidence suggests that target selection is determined not only by attraction to the target cells but also by exclusion from non-target cells. Proteins with leucine-rich repeats (LRR proteins) appear to be a major molecular family of proteins responsible for the targeting. While the demonstrated roles of the target-derived cues point to active recognition by presynaptic motor neurons, postsynaptic muscles also reach out and recognize specific motor neurons by sending out cellular protrusions called myopodia. Simultaneous live imaging of myopodia and growth cones has revealed that local and mutual recognition at the tip of myopodia is critical for selective synapse formation. A large number of candidate target cues have been identified on a single muscle, suggesting that target specificity is determined by the partially redundant and combinatorial function of multiple cues. Analyses of the seemingly simple neuromuscular system in Drosophila have revealed an unexpected complexity in the mechanisms of axon targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akinao Nose
- Department of Complexity Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa Chiba, Japan
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de Joussineau C, Bataillé L, Jagla T, Jagla K. Diversification of muscle types in Drosophila: upstream and downstream of identity genes. Curr Top Dev Biol 2012; 98:277-301. [PMID: 22305167 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-386499-4.00011-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Understanding gene regulatory pathways underlying diversification of cell types during development is one of the major challenges in developmental biology. Progressive specification of mesodermal lineages that are at the origin of body wall muscles in Drosophila embryos has been extensively studied during past years, providing an attractive framework for dissecting cell type diversification processes. In particular, it has been found that muscle founder cells that are at the origin of individual muscles display specific expression of transcription factors that control diversification of muscle types. These factors, encoded by genes collectively called muscle identity genes, are activated in discrete subsets of muscle founders. As a result, each founder cell is thought to carry a unique combinatorial code of identity gene expression. Considering this, to define temporally and spatially restricted expression of identity genes, a set of coordinated upstream regulatory inputs is required. But also, to realize the identity program and to form specific muscle types with distinct properties, an efficient battery of downstream identity gene targets needs to be activated. Here we review how the specificity of expression and action of muscle identity genes is acquired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyrille de Joussineau
- GReD INSERM UMR1103, CNRS UMR6293, University of Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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de Wit J, Hong W, Luo L, Ghosh A. Role of leucine-rich repeat proteins in the development and function of neural circuits. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2011; 27:697-729. [PMID: 21740233 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-092910-154111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The nervous system consists of an ensemble of billions of neurons interconnected in a highly specific pattern that allows proper propagation and integration of neural activities. The organization of these specific connections emerges from sequential developmental events including axon guidance, target selection, and synapse formation. These events critically rely on cell-cell recognition and communication mediated by cell-surface ligands and receptors. Recent studies have uncovered central roles for leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain-containing proteins, not only in organizing neural connectivity from axon guidance to target selection to synapse formation, but also in various nervous system disorders. Their versatile LRR domains, in particular, serve as key sites for interactions with a wide diversity of binding partners. Here, we focus on a few exquisite examples of secreted or membrane-associated LRR proteins in Drosophila and mammals and review the mechanisms by which they regulate diverse aspects of nervous system development and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joris de Wit
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0366, USA
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Genetic dissection of synaptic specificity. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2010; 21:93-9. [PMID: 21087855 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2010.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2010] [Revised: 10/04/2010] [Accepted: 10/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Nervous systems are built of a myriad of neurons connected by an even larger number of synapses. While it has been long known that neurons specifically select their synaptic partners among many possible choices during development, we only begin to understand how they make those decisions. Recent findings have started to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic target selection including positive as well as negative cues from synaptic partners, intermediate targets and surrounding tissues. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that synaptic connections are not only formed among specific sets of neurons, but also targeted to specific subcellular domains. Finally, spatial and temporal transcriptional regulation of these molecular cues represents an additional, versatile mechanism to provide wiring specificity.
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