Research article summary (published 30 Jan 2008):

Derailed regulates development of the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.

Full Abstract

Neural function is dependent upon the proper formation and development of synapses. We show here that Wnt5 regulates the growth of the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) by signaling through the Derailed receptor. Mutations in both wnt5 and drl result in a significant reduction in the number of synaptic boutons. Cell-type specific rescue experiments show that wnt5 functions in the presynaptic motor neuron while drl likely functions in the postsynaptic muscle cell. Epistatic analyses indicate that drl acts downstream of wnt5 to promote synaptic growth. Structure-function analyses of the Drl protein indicate that normal synaptic growth requires the extracellular Wnt inhibitory factor domain and the intracellular domain, which includes an atypical kinase. Our findings reveal a novel signaling mechanism that regulates morphology of the Drosophila NMJ.

Author information

Author/s: Liebl, Faith L W (FL); Wu, Yuping (Y); Featherstone, David E (DE); Noordermeer, Jasprina N (JN); Fradkin, Lee (L); Hing, Huey (H);

Affiliation: Cell and Developmental Biology Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.

Grants: 1 F32 DC 08443-01 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; DC 5408-01 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; HD 07333 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS) ; R01 NS 045628 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; R01 NS045628-01 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; R01 NS045628-02 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; R01 NS045628-03 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; R01 NS045628-04 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Developmental neurobiology (Dev Neurobiol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Feb; vol 68 (issue 2) : pp 152-65

Dates: Created 2008/01/21; Completed 2008/04/21; Revised 2009/02/03;

PMID: 17963254, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Body Patterning - genetics Cell Differentiation - genetics Drosophila Proteins - chemistry; genetics; metabolism Drosophila melanogaster - genetics; growth & development; metabolism Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - genetics Motor Neurons - cytology; metabolism Muscle, Skeletal - cytology; metabolism Mutation - genetics

Mutation - genetics Neuromuscular Junction - genetics; growth & development; metabolism Presynaptic Terminals - metabolism; ultrastructure Protein Structure, Tertiary - genetics Proto-Oncogene Proteins - chemistry; genetics; metabolism Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - genetics; metabolism Signal Transduction - genetics Synaptic Transmission - genetics Wnt Proteins - chemistry; genetics; metabolism

Associated Chemicals: Drosophila Proteins (0) ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins (0) ; Wnt Proteins (0) ; Wnt5 protein, Drosophila (0) ; derailed protein, Drosophila (EC 2.7.1.-) ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases (EC 2.7.1.112)

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