atonal regulates neurite arborization but does not act as a proneural gene in the Drosophila brain

B A Hassan; N A Bermingham; Y He; Y Sun; Y N Jan; H Y Zoghbi; H J Bellen

doi:10.1016/s0896-6273(00)81059-4

atonal regulates neurite arborization but does not act as a proneural gene in the Drosophila brain

Neuron. 2000 Mar;25(3):549-61. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(00)81059-4.

Authors

B A Hassan¹, N A Bermingham, Y He, Y Sun, Y N Jan, H Y Zoghbi, H J Bellen

Collaborator

H J Bellen²

Affiliations

¹ Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
² Baylor Coll Med, Houston, TX

PMID: 10774724
DOI: 10.1016/s0896-6273(00)81059-4

Abstract

Drosophila atonal (ato) is the proneural gene of the chordotonal organs (CHOs) in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the larval and adult photoreceptor organs. Here, we show that ato is expressed at multiple stages during the development of a lineage of central brain neurons that innervate the optic lobes and are required for eclosion. A novel fate mapping approach shows that ato is expressed in the embryonic precursors of these neurons and that its expression is reactivated in third instar larvae (L3). In contrast to its function in the PNS, ato does not act as a proneural gene in the embryonic brain. Instead, ato performs a novel function, regulating arborization during larval and pupal development by interacting with Notch.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Animals
Axons / chemistry
Axons / physiology
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
Brain / cytology
Brain / growth & development
Cell Differentiation / physiology
Cell Lineage / physiology
DNA-Binding Proteins / analysis
DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
Drosophila
Drosophila Proteins
Ganglia, Invertebrate / cytology
Ganglia, Invertebrate / growth & development
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
In Situ Hybridization
Larva / physiology
Membrane Proteins / physiology
Nerve Tissue Proteins
Neurites / chemistry*
Neurites / physiology*
Neurons / chemistry
Neurons / physiology
Neurons / ultrastructure
Pupa / physiology
RNA, Messenger / analysis
Receptors, Notch
Stem Cells / chemistry
Stem Cells / physiology
Stem Cells / ultrastructure
Visual Pathways / chemistry
Visual Pathways / cytology
Visual Pathways / physiology

Substances

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
DNA-Binding Proteins
Drosophila Proteins
Membrane Proteins
N protein, Drosophila
Nerve Tissue Proteins
RNA, Messenger
Receptors, Notch
ato protein, Drosophila