N-cadherin regulates target specificity in the Drosophila visual system

Neuron. 2001 May;30(2):437-50. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(01)00291-4.

Abstract

Using visual behavioral screens in Drosophila, we identified multiple alleles of N-cadherin. Removal of N-cadherin selectively from photoreceptor neurons (R cells) causes deficits in specific visual behaviors that correlate with disruptions in R cell connectivity. These defects include disruptions in the pattern of neuronal connections made by all three classes of R cells (R1-R6, R7, and R8). N-cadherin is expressed in both R cell axons and their targets. By inducing mitotic recombination in a subclass of eye progenitors, we generated mutant R7 axons surrounded by largely wild-type R cell axons and a wild-type target. R7 axons lacking N-cadherin mistarget to the R8 recipient layer. We consider the implications of these findings in the context of the proposed role for cadherins in target specificity.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Axons / physiology
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cadherins / physiology*
  • Drosophila / physiology*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins / analysis
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Mosaicism
  • Mutagenesis
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / physiology*
  • Retina / physiology
  • Vision, Ocular / genetics
  • Vision, Ocular / physiology*
  • Visual Pathways / physiology
  • beta-Galactosidase / analysis
  • beta-Galactosidase / genetics

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • beta-Galactosidase