title: Slit and Robo control the development of dendrites in Drosophila CNS.
abstract: The molecular mechanisms that generate dendrites in the CNS are poorly understood. The diffusible signal molecule Slit and the neuronally expressed receptor Robo mediate growth cone collapse in vivo. However, in cultured neurons, these molecules promote dendritic development. Here we examine the aCC motoneuron, one of the first CNS neurons to generate dendrites in Drosophila. Slit displays a dynamic concentration topography that prefigures aCC dendrogenesis. Genetic deletion of Slit leads to complete loss of aCC dendrites. Robo is cell-autonomously required in aCC motoneurons to develop dendrites. Our results demonstrate that Slit and Robo control the development of dendrites in the embryonic CNS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Furrer
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vasenkova
authors.forename: Daichi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kamiyama
authors.forename: Yaira
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rosado
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiba
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins; C066819:sli protein, Drosophila