title: Type I bHLH Proteins Daughterless and Tcf4 Restrict Neurite Branching and Synapse Formation by Repressing Neurexin in Postmitotic Neurons.
abstract: Proneural proteins of the class I/II basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family are highly conserved transcription factors. Class I bHLH proteins are expressed in a broad number of tissues during development, whereas class II bHLH protein expression is more tissue restricted. Our understanding of the function of class I/II bHLH transcription factors in both invertebrate and vertebrate neurobiology is largely focused on their function as regulators of neurogenesis. Here, we show that the class I bHLH proteins Daughterless and Tcf4 are expressed in postmitotic neurons in Drosophila melanogaster and mice, respectively, where they function to restrict neurite branching and synapse formation. Our data indicate that Daughterless performs this function in part by restricting the expression of the cell adhesion molecule Neurexin. This suggests a role for these proteins outside of their established roles in neurogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Rozario
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Edward A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Waddell
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
authors.forename: Yonggang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nayal
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Kaveesh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kutty
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL 62026, USA.
authors.forename: Faith
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liebl
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. Electronic address: whu@temple.edu.
authors.forename: Wenhui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: daniel.marenda@drexel.edu.
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Marenda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008938:Mitosis; D009043:Motor Activity; D016501:Neurites / Q000378:metabolism*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C090080:Da protein, Drosophila; C491321:Nrx protein, Drosophila; C000613163:Tcf4 protein, Drosophila
keywords: NMJ; Pitt-Hopkins; TCF4; bHLH; daughterless; proneural; schizophrenia