title: Baboon/dSmad2 TGF-beta signaling is required during late larval stage for development of adult-specific neurons.
abstract: The intermingling of larval functional neurons with adult-specific neurons during metamorphosis contributes to the development of the adult Drosophila brain. To better understand this process, we characterized the development of a dorsal cluster (DC) of Atonal-positive neurons that are born at early larval stages but do not undergo extensive morphogenesis until pupal formation. We found that Baboon(Babo)/dSmad2-mediated TGF-beta signaling, known to be essential for remodeling of larval functional neurons, is also indispensable for proper morphogenesis of these adult-specific neurons. Mosaic analysis reveals slowed development of mutant DC neurons, as evidenced by delays in both neuronal morphogenesis and atonal expression. We observe similar phenomena in other adult-specific neurons. We further demonstrate that Babo/dSmad2 operates autonomously in individual neurons and specifically during the late larval stage. Our results suggest that Babo/dSmad2 signaling prior to metamorphosis may be widely required to prepare neurons for the dynamic environment present during metamorphosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Zugates
authors.forename: Zouyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jia-min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Tzumin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D030301:Activin Receptors, Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D028341:Activins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009154:Mutation; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D028341:Activins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; D030301:Activin Receptors, Type II; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; C425583:put protein, Drosophila