Dendrite branching and self-avoidance are controlled by Turtle, a conserved IgSF protein in Drosophila.
The dendritic trees of neurons result from specific patterns of growth and branching, and dendrite branches of the same neuron avoid one another to spread over a particular receptive field. Recognition molecules on the surfaces of dendrites influence these patterning and avoidance processes by promoting attractive, repulsive or adhesive responses to specific cues. The Drosophila transmembrane protein Turtle (Tutl) and its orthologs in other species are conserved members of the immunoglobulin superfamily, the in vivo functions of which are unknown. In Drosophila sensory neurons, we show that the tutl gene is required to restrain dendrite branch formation in neurons with simple arbors, and to promote dendrite self-avoidance in neurons with complex arbors. The cytoplasmic tail of Tutl is dispensable for control of dendrite branching, suggesting that Tutl acts as a ligand or co-receptor for an unidentified recognition molecule to influence the architecture of dendrites and their coverage of receptive territories.
Centre for Research in Neuroscience and Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, and the McGill University Health Centre Research Institute, QC, Canada.
Hong
H
Long
Yimiao
Y
Ou
Yong
Y
Rao
Donald J
DJ
van Meyel
D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C491736:Dscam1 protein, Drosophila; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C427323:tutl protein, Drosophila; C419769:trc protein, Drosophila; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases