Hox Function Is Required for the Development and Maintenance of the Drosophila Feeding Motor Unit

Cell Reports

Michael P. Eichenlaub¹  Jochen Wittbrodt¹  Natalie G. Schulz²  Jana Friedrich²  Sebastian Sorge²  Fatmire Bujupi²  Ingrid Lohmann² 

[1] University of Heidelberg, Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Department of Developmental Biology and Physiology, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;University of Heidelberg, Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Department of Developmental Biology, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;

关键词: Drosophila;    neuromuscular unit;    Hox;    hatching behavior;    feeding behavior;    feeding movements;    Deformed (Dfd);    feeding motor pattern;    motor control;    Hox4;    Ank2-XL;    synapse;    neuromuscular junction;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.celrep.2015.12.077

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Feeding is an evolutionarily conserved and integral behavior that depends on the rhythmic activity of feeding muscles stimulated by specific motoneurons. However, critical molecular determinants underlying the development of the neuromuscular feeding unit are largely unknown. Here, we identify the Hox transcription factor Deformed (Dfd) as essential for feeding unit formation, from initial specification to the establishment of active synapses, by controlling stage-specific sets of target genes. Importantly, we found Dfd to control the expression of functional components of synapses, such as Ankyrin2-XL, a protein known to be critical for synaptic stability and connectivity. Furthermore, we uncovered Dfd as a potential regulator of synaptic specificity, as it represses expression of the synaptic cell adhesion molecule Connectin (Con). These results demonstrate that Dfd is critical for the establishment and maintenance of the neuromuscular unit required for feeding behavior, which might be shared by other group 4 Hox genes.

【 授权许可】

Unknown