The blood-brain barrier--lessons from moody flies

Cell. 2005 Oct 7;123(1):9-12. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2005.09.017.

Abstract

Despite the importance of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), little is known about the molecular mechanisms that control its integrity. The identification of moody, a gene required for the formation and maintenance of the Drosophila BBB, provides new insight into how paracellular junctions are formed at the barrier. Meanwhile, moody also has been identified in a screen for fly mutants with altered sensitivity to cocaine, remarkably implicating the BBB in the physiological response to narcotics.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Neuroglia / metabolism
  • Neuroglia / ultrastructure
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Tight Junctions / metabolism
  • Tight Junctions / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled