title: Golden Goal collaborates with Flamingo in conferring synaptic-layer specificity in the visual system.
abstract: Neuronal connections are often organized in layers that contain synapses between neurons that have similar functions. In Drosophila, R7 and R8 photoreceptors, which detect different wavelengths, form synapses in distinct medulla layers. The mechanisms underlying the specificity of synaptic-layer selection remain unclear. We found that Golden Goal (Gogo) and Flamingo (Fmi), two cell-surface proteins involved in photoreceptor targeting, functionally interact in R8 photoreceptor axons. Our results indicate that Gogo promotes R8 photoreceptor axon adhesion to the temporary layer M1, whereas Gogo and Fmi collaborate to mediate axon targeting to the final layer M3. Structure-function analysis suggested that Gogo and Fmi interact with intracellular components through the Gogo cytoplasmic domain. Moreover, Fmi was also required in target cells for R8 photoreceptor axon targeting. We propose that Gogo acts as a functional partner of Fmi for R8 photoreceptor axon targeting and that the dynamic regulation of their interaction specifies synaptic-layer selection of photoreceptors.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany. suzukit@neuro.mpg.de
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hakeda-Suzuki
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berger-Müller
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomasi
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Usui
authors.forename: Shin-Ya
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Horiuchi
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; C557406:Gogo protein, Drosophila; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C121420:stan protein, Drosophila