title: Maturation of a central brain flight circuit in Drosophila requires Fz2/Ca²⁺ signaling.
abstract: The final identity of a differentiated neuron is determined by multiple signaling events, including activity dependent calcium transients. Non-canonical Frizzled2 (Fz2) signaling generates calcium transients that determine neuronal polarity, neuronal migration, and synapse assembly in the developing vertebrate brain. Here, we demonstrate a requirement for Fz2/Ca(2+) signaling in determining the final differentiated state of a set of central brain dopaminergic neurons in Drosophila, referred to as the protocerebral anterior medial (PAM) cluster. Knockdown or inhibition of Fz2/Ca(2+) signaling during maturation of the flight circuit in pupae reduces Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) expression in the PAM neurons and affects maintenance of flight. Thus, we demonstrate that Fz2/Ca(2+) transients during development serve as a pre-requisite for normal adult behavior. Our results support a neural mechanism where PAM neuron send projections to the α' and β' lobes of a higher brain centre, the mushroom body, and function in dopaminergic re-inforcement of flight.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Tarjani
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Gaiti
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hasan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002465:Cell Movement; D016764:Cell Polarity; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D005426:Flight, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D051157:Frizzled Receptors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D024521:Mushroom Bodies / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011679:Pupa / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000071737:Stromal Interaction Molecule 1; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D051157:Frizzled Receptors; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C502662:Stim protein, Drosophila; D000071737:Stromal Interaction Molecule 1; C101703:fz2 protein, Drosophila; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D002118:Calcium
keywords: D. melanogaster; developmental biology; dopamine; neuroscience; neurotransmitter; stem cells; transcription; tyrosine hydroxylase