A Neurexin-related protein, BAM-2, terminates axonal branches in C. elegans.
Neuronal axons connect to multiple target cells through the formation of collateral branches, but the mechanisms that regulate this process are largely unknown. We show that BAM-2, a neurexin-related transmembrane protein, is required for development of VC motoneuron branches in the worm Caenorhabditis elegans. Expression analysis and ectopic expression experiments suggest that BAM-2 functions as a branch termination cue and reveal a mechanism for selective control of branches that sprout off a primary axon.
Colavita
Antonio
A
Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Tessier-Lavigne
Marc
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000502:physiology; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014844:Vulva / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation
C478249:BAM-2 protein, C elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins