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- Title
Drosophila N-cadherin mediates an attractive interaction between photoreceptor axons and their targets.
- Authors
Prakash, Saurabh; Caldwell, Jason C; Eberl, Daniel F; Clandinin, Thomas R
- Abstract
Classical cadherins have been proposed to mediate interactions between pre- and postsynaptic cells that are necessary for synapse formation. We provide the first direct, genetic evidence in favor of this model by examining the role of N-cadherin in controlling the pattern of synaptic connections made by photoreceptor axons in Drosophila. N-cadherin is required in both individual photoreceptors and their target neurons for photoreceptor axon extension. Cell-by-cell reconstruction of wild-type photoreceptor axons extending within mosaic patches of mutant target cells shows that N-cadherin mediates attractive interactions between photoreceptors and their targets. This interaction is not limited to those cells that will become the synaptic partners of photoreceptors. Multiple N-cadherin isoforms are produced, but single isoforms can substitute for endogenous N-cadherin activity. We propose that N-cadherin mediates a homophilic, attractive interaction between photoreceptor growth cones and their targets that precedes synaptic partner choice.
- Subjects
DROSOPHILA; PHOTORECEPTORS; AXONS; NEURONS; SYNAPSES; NEURAL transmission; NEUROSCIENCES; MEDICAL sciences
- Publication
Nature Neuroscience, 2005, Vol 8, Issue 4, p443
- ISSN
1097-6256
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/nn1415