Genetically encoded dendritic marker sheds light on neuronal connectivity in Drosophila.
In recent years, Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as a powerful model for neuronal circuit development, pathology, and function. A major impediment to these studies has been the lack of a genetically encoded, specific, universal, and phenotypically neutral marker of the somatodendritic compartment. We have developed such a marker and show that it is effective and specific in all neuronal populations tested in the peripheral and central nervous system. The marker, which we name DenMark (Dendritic Marker), is a hybrid protein of the mouse protein ICAM5/Telencephalin and the red fluorescent protein mCherry. We show that DenMark is a powerful tool for revealing novel aspects of the neuroanatomy of developing dendrites, identifying previously unknown dendritic arbors, and elucidating neuronal connectivity.
Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Department of Molecular and Developmental Genetics, Flanders Institute of Biotechnology (VIB), 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Laura J J
LJ
Nicolaï
Ariane
A
Ramaekers
Tim
T
Raemaekers
Andrzej
A
Drozdzecki
Alex S
AS
Mauss
Jiekun
J
Yan
Matthias
M
Landgraf
Wim
W
Annaert
Bassem A
BA
Hassan
D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D003712:Dendrites / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D004596:Electroretinography; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D005819:Genetic Markers; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein; C504585:Icam5 protein, mouse