Abstract
Dendrites and axons are two major neuronal compartments with differences that are critical for neuronal functions. To learn about the differential regulation of dendritic and axonal development, we conducted a genetic screen in Drosophila and isolated the dendritic arbor reduction 1 (dar1) mutants, which display defects in dendritic but not axonal growth. The dar1 gene encodes a novel transcription regulator in the Krüppel-like factor family. Neurons lacking dar1 function have severely reduced growth of microtubule- but not F-actin-based dendritic branches. In contrast, overexpression of Dar1 dramatically increased the growth of microtubule-based dendritic branches. Our results suggest that Dar1 promotes dendrite growth in part by suppressing the expression of the microtubule-severing protein Spastin. Our study thus uncovers a novel transcriptional program for microtubule regulation that preferentially controls dendrite growth.
Publication types
-
Comparative Study
-
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
-
Adenosine Triphosphatases / antagonists & inhibitors*
-
Adenosine Triphosphatases / biosynthesis
-
Adenosine Triphosphatases / genetics
-
Animals
-
Animals, Genetically Modified
-
Axons / physiology*
-
Axons / ultrastructure
-
Dendrites / physiology*
-
Dendrites / ultrastructure
-
Drosophila Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
-
Drosophila Proteins / biosynthesis
-
Drosophila Proteins / deficiency
-
Drosophila Proteins / genetics
-
Drosophila Proteins / physiology*
-
Drosophila melanogaster
-
Female
-
Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / deficiency
-
Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / genetics
-
Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / physiology*
-
Male
-
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / deficiency
-
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
-
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / physiology*
-
Receptors, Neuropeptide / deficiency
-
Receptors, Neuropeptide / genetics
-
Receptors, Neuropeptide / physiology*
Substances
-
AstA-R1 protein, Drosophila
-
Drosophila Proteins
-
Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
-
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
-
Receptors, Neuropeptide
-
Adenosine Triphosphatases
-
spas protein, Drosophila