Dscam-mediated repulsion controls tiling and self-avoidance.
Recent studies have uncovered the molecular basis of self-avoidance and tiling, two fundamental principles required for the formation of neural circuits. Both of these wiring strategies are established through homophilic repulsion between Dscam proteins expressed on opposing cell surfaces. In Drosophila, Dscam1 mediates self-avoidance, whereas Dscam2 mediates tiling. By contrast, phenotypes in the retina of the DSCAM mutant mouse indicate that DSCAM functions in both self-avoidance and tiling. These findings suggest that homophilic recognition molecules that have classically been defined as adhesive may also function as repulsive cues and that Dscam proteins specialize in this function.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
S Sean
SS
Millard
S Lawrence
SL
Zipursky
D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C491736:Dscam1 protein, Drosophila; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface