title: Integration of temporal and spatial patterning generates neural diversity.
abstract: In the Drosophila optic lobes, 800 retinotopically organized columns in the medulla act as functional units for processing visual information. The medulla contains over 80 types of neuron, which belong to two classes: uni-columnar neurons have a stoichiometry of one per column, while multi-columnar neurons contact multiple columns. Here we show that combinatorial inputs from temporal and spatial axes generate this neuronal diversity: all neuroblasts switch fates over time to produce different neurons; the neuroepithelium that generates neuroblasts is also subdivided into six compartments by the expression of specific factors. Uni-columnar neurons are produced in all spatial compartments independently of spatial input; they innervate the neuropil where they are generated. Multi-columnar neurons are generated in smaller numbers in restricted compartments and require spatial input; the majority of their cell bodies subsequently move to cover the entire medulla. The selective integration of spatial inputs by a fixed temporal neuroblast cascade thus acts as a powerful mechanism for generating neural diversity, regulating stoichiometry and the formation of retinotopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA.|Department of Biology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario L5L-1C6, Canada.
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erclik
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Maximilien
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Courgeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bertet
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Zhenqing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baumert
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA.
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario L5L-1C6, Canada.
authors.forename: Urfa
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Arain
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Rudy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Behnia
authors.affiliation: Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: del Valle Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology &Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Senderowicz
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology &Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Negre
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology &Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA.|Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Desplan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019581:Neuropil / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009899:Optic Lobe, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011679:Pupa / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis; D013997:Time Factors