Generation of neuromuscular specificity in Drosophila: novel mechanisms revealed by new technologies.

Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
Akinao Nose

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 ...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 25, 2012·Development, Growth & Differentiation·Hiroshi KohsakaAkinao Nose
Aug 7, 2013·Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS·Aref Arzan ZarinJuan-Pablo Labrador
Aug 13, 2013·Current Opinion in Neurobiology·Ryan ChristensenDaniel A Colón-Ramos
May 10, 2017·Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience·Fernando Vonhoff, Haig Keshishian
Jul 8, 2020·Cells·Preethi Poovathumkadavil, Krzysztof Jagla

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Brain developing: Influences & Outcomes

This feed focuses on influences that affect the developing brain including genetics, fetal development, prenatal care, and gene-environment interactions. Here is the latest research in this field.