DWnt4 and DWnt10 Regulate Morphogenesis and Arrangement of Columnar Units via Fz2/PCP Signaling in the Drosophila Brain

Cell Rep. 2020 Oct 27;33(4):108305. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108305.

Abstract

Columns are structural and functional units of the brain. However, the mechanism of column formation remains unclear. The medulla of the fly visual center shares features with the mammalian cerebral cortex, such as columnar and layered structures, and provides a good opportunity to study the mechanisms of column formation. Column formation is initiated by three core neurons in the medulla, namely, Mi1, R8, and R7. The proper orientation of neurons is required for the orientation and arrangement of multiple columns. Their orientations may be under the control of planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling, because it is known to regulate the orientation of cells in two-dimensional tissue structures. In this study, we demonstrate that the ligands DWnt4 and DWnt10 expressed specifically in the ventral medulla and dorsal medulla, respectively, globally regulate the columnar arrangement and orientation of Mi1 and R8 terminals through Fz2/PCP signaling in a three-dimensional space.

Keywords: DWnt10; DWnt4; Drosophila; Fz2; column; medulla; planar cell polarity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drosophila / metabolism*
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Frizzled Receptors / metabolism*
  • Morphogenesis
  • Signal Transduction
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Frizzled Receptors
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Wnt10 protein, Drosophila
  • Wnt4 protein, Drosophila
  • fz2 protein, Drosophila