Abstract
Neuronal connectivity is established by the axo-dendritic polarity, correct guidance and targeting of neurons. Unlike for axons, the mechanisms responsible for directed outgrowth of dendrites are not well understood. Using single-cell labeling, we describe specific guidance defects in dendrites of identified neurons in frazzled, robo, netrin and commissureless mutant embryos of Drosophila melanogaster. We found that the cell-surface molecules Frazzled and Robo work as guidance molecules not only for axons but also for dendrites as they navigate within the CNS. Furthermore, we report that each neuron showed a cell-autonomous and independent use of guidance molecules.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the current members of the Chiba lab, T. Godenschwege and R. Murphey (University of Massachusetts) for comments on the manuscript. We also thank M. Mussacchio (University of Illinois) for help during the early phase of data collection. This work was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer to M.P.F. and grants from the National Institutes of Health/NINDS (NS350049, NS40420) and the National Science Foundation (IBN 9986067) to A.C.
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Furrer, MP., Kim, S., Wolf, B. et al. Robo and Frazzled/DCC mediate dendritic guidance at the CNS midline. Nat Neurosci 6, 223–230 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1017
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1017
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