Genome-wide analyses identify transcription factors required for proper morphogenesis of Drosophila sensory neuron dendrites.
Dendrite arborization patterns are critical determinants of neuronal function. To explore the basis of transcriptional regulation in dendrite pattern formation, we used RNA interference (RNAi) to screen 730 transcriptional regulators and identified 78 genes involved in patterning the stereotyped dendritic arbors of class I da neurons in Drosophila. Most of these transcriptional regulators affect dendrite morphology without altering the number of class I dendrite arborization (da) neurons and fall primarily into three groups. Group A genes control both primary dendrite extension and lateral branching, hence the overall dendritic field. Nineteen genes within group A act to increase arborization, whereas 20 other genes restrict dendritic coverage. Group B genes appear to balance dendritic outgrowth and branching. Nineteen group B genes function to promote branching rather than outgrowth, and two others have the opposite effects. Finally, 10 group C genes are critical for the routing of the dendritic arbors of individual class I da neurons. Thus, multiple genetic programs operate to calibrate dendritic coverage, to coordinate the elaboration of primary versus secondary branches, and to lay out these dendritic branches in the proper orientation.
Department of Physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.
Jay Z
JZ
Parrish
Michael D
MD
Kim
Lily Yeh
LY
Jan
Yuh Nung
YN
Jan
D000818:Animals; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017344:Genes, Insect; D016678:Genome; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010641:Phenotype; D034622:RNA Interference; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors