Nerfin-1 is required for early axon guidance decisions in the developing Drosophila CNS.
Many studies have focused on the mechanisms of axon guidance; however, little is known about the transcriptional control of the navigational components that carryout these decisions. This report describes the functional analysis of Nerfin-1, a nuclear regulator of axon guidance required for a subset of early pathfinding events in the developing Drosophila CNS. Nerfin-1 belongs to a highly conserved subfamily of Zn-finger proteins with cognates identified in nematodes and man. We show that the neural precursor gene prospero is essential for nerfin-1 expression. Unlike nerfin-1 mRNA, which is expressed in many neural precursor cells, the encoded Nerfin-1 protein is only detected in the nuclei of neuronal precursors that will divide just once and then transiently in their nascent neurons. Although nerfin-1 null embryos have no discernible alterations in neural lineage development nor in neuronal or glial identities, CNS pioneering neurons require nerfin-1 function for early axon guidance decisions. Furthermore, nerfin-1 is required for the proper development of commissural and connective axon fascicles. Our studies also show that Nerfin-1 is essential for the proper expression of robo2, wnt5, derailed, G-oalpha47A, Lar, and futsch, genes whose encoded proteins participate in these early navigational events.
Kuzin
Alexander
A
Neural Cell-Fate Determinants Section, NINDS, NIH, Bethesda MD 20892-4160, USA. alex.kuzin@ninds.nih.gov
Brody
Thomas
T
Moore
Adrian W
AW
Odenwald
Ward F
WF
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D040461:Gene Components; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C418490:nerfin-1 protein, Drosophila; C073099:pros protein, Drosophila