Visual circuit assembly requires fine tuning of the novel Ig transmembrane protein Borderless

J Neurosci. 2013 Oct 30;33(44):17413-21. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1878-13.2013.

Abstract

Establishment of synaptic connections in the neuropils of the developing nervous system requires the coordination of specific neurite-neurite interactions (i.e., axon-axon, dendrite-dendrite and axon-dendrite interactions). The molecular mechanisms underlying coordination of neurite-neurite interactions for circuit assembly are incompletely understood. In this report, we identify a novel Ig superfamily transmembrane protein that we named Borderless (Bdl), as a novel regulator of neurite-neurite interactions in Drosophila. Bdl induces homotypic cell-cell adhesion in vitro and mediates neurite-neurite interactions in the developing visual system. Bdl interacts physically and genetically with the Ig transmembrane protein Turtle, a key regulator of axonal tiling. Our results also show that the receptor tyrosine phosphatase leukocyte common antigen-related protein (LAR) negatively regulates Bdl to control synaptic-layer selection. We propose that precise regulation of Bdl action coordinates neurite-neurite interactions for circuit formation in Drosophila.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Communication / genetics*
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / physiology*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / enzymology
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin Subunits / genetics
  • Immunoglobulins / genetics
  • Immunoglobulins / physiology
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology*
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Nerve Net / enzymology
  • Nerve Net / physiology*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology
  • Neurites / physiology
  • Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / genetics
  • Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / physiology
  • Visual Pathways / enzymology
  • Visual Pathways / physiology*

Substances

  • Bdl protein, Drosophila
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Immunoglobulin Subunits
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • tutl protein, Drosophila
  • Lar protein, Drosophila
  • Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases