The development and function of the Drosophila CNS midline cells.
1. The midline cells of the Drosophila embryonic CNS comprise a discrete neuroanatomical structure consisting of a small subset of neurons and glia. 2. Developmental commitment of the CNS midline cells requires the action of dorsal/ventral patterning genes. 3. The single-minded gene encodes a basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor and acts as a master regulator for the CNS midline lineage. 4. A number of different transcription factors and proteins involved in cell-cell interactions are necessary for the differentiation of midline neurons and glia. 5. CNS midline cells have important functions in the formation of the ventral epidermis and axon commissures.
Nambu
J R
JR
Department of Biology, University of California, Los Angeles 90024.
Lewis
J O
JO
Crews
S T
ST
D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*