QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, February 11, 2009, 29(6):1904-1914; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5743-08.2009

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplemental Data Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Web of Science (2) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yu, H.-H. Articles by Lee, T. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Yu, H.-H. Articles by Lee, T.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Development/Plasticity/Repair
Endodomain Diversity in the Drosophila Dscam and Its Roles in Neuronal Morphogenesis

Hung-Hsiang Yu,^1 * Jacob S. Yang,^1 * Jian Wang,² Yaling Huang,¹ and Tzumin Lee¹

¹Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, and ²Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742

Correspondence should be addressed to Tzumin Lee at the above address. Email: tzumin.lee{at}umassmed.edu

Drosophila Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam) can be variably spliced to encode 152,064 distinct single-pass transmembrane proteins. In addition to 19,008 possible ectodomains and two alternative transmembrane segments, it may carry endodomains containing or lacking exons 19 and 23. Here, we determine the role of Dscam endodomain diversity in neural development. Dscam with full-length endodomain is largely restricted to embryogenesis. In contrast, most Dscams lack exons 19 and 23 at postembryonic stages. As implicated from the expression patterns, removal of Dscam exon 19-containing variants disrupts wiring of embryonic neurons while silencing of Dscam transcripts lacking exon 19 or exon 23 effectively blocks postembryonic neuronal morphogenesis. Furthermore, compared with exon 19-containing Dscam, transgenic Dscam without exon 19 is more efficiently targeted to neurites and more potently suppresses axon bifurcation in Dscam mutant neurons. In sum, Dscam with or without exon 19 in its endodomain is used to govern different stage-specific neuronal morphogenetic processes, possibly due to differences in protein targeting.

Key words: Dscam; endodomain; alternative splicing; miRNA silencing; neuronal morphogenesis; differential protein distribution

---

Received Dec. 2, 2008; revised Jan. 2, 2009; accepted Jan. 5, 2009.

Correspondence should be addressed to Tzumin Lee at the above address. Email: tzumin.lee{at}umassmed.edu

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help