Drosophila N-cadherin mediates an attractive interaction between photoreceptor axons and their targets.
Classical cadherins have been proposed to mediate interactions between pre- and postsynaptic cells that are necessary for synapse formation. We provide the first direct, genetic evidence in favor of this model by examining the role of N-cadherin in controlling the pattern of synaptic connections made by photoreceptor axons in Drosophila. N-cadherin is required in both individual photoreceptors and their target neurons for photoreceptor axon extension. Cell-by-cell reconstruction of wild-type photoreceptor axons extending within mosaic patches of mutant target cells shows that N-cadherin mediates attractive interactions between photoreceptors and their targets. This interaction is not limited to those cells that will become the synaptic partners of photoreceptors. Multiple N-cadherin isoforms are produced, but single isoforms can substitute for endogenous N-cadherin activity. We propose that N-cadherin mediates a homophilic, attractive interaction between photoreceptor growth cones and their targets that precedes synaptic partner choice.
Prakash
Saurabh
S
Department of Neurobiology, 299 W. Campus Drive, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Caldwell
Jason C
JC
Eberl
Daniel F
DF
Clandinin
Thomas R
TR
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D051959:ELAV Proteins; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D008959:Models, Neurological; D016296:Mutagenesis / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
D015820:Cadherins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D051959:ELAV Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C055093:chp protein, Drosophila; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D001616:beta-Galactosidase
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