Nanos and Pumilio are essential for dendrite morphogenesis in Drosophila peripheral neurons

Curr Biol. 2004 Feb 17;14(4):314-21. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2004.01.052.

Abstract

Much attention has focused on dendritic translational regulation of neuronal signaling and plasticity. For example, long-term memory in adult Drosophila requires Pumilio (Pum), an RNA binding protein that interacts with the RNA binding protein Nanos (Nos) to form a localized translation repression complex essential for anterior-posterior body patterning in early embryogenesis. Whether dendrite morphogenesis requires similar translational regulation is unknown. Here we report that nos and pum control the elaboration of high-order dendritic branches of class III and IV, but not class I and II, dendritic arborization (da) neurons. Analogous to their function in body patterning, nos and pum require each other to control dendrite morphogenesis, a process likely to involve translational regulation of nos itself. The control of dendrite morphogenesis by Nos/Pum, however, does not require hunchback, which is essential for body patterning. Interestingly, Nos protein is localized to RNA granules in the dendrites of da neurons, raising the possibility that the Nos/Pum translation repression complex operates in dendrites. This work serves as an entry point for future studies of dendritic translational control of dendrite morphogenesis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Dendrites / metabolism*
  • Drosophila / genetics
  • Drosophila / growth & development*
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Larva / growth & development
  • Larva / metabolism
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Morphogenesis
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • pum protein, Drosophila
  • nos protein, Drosophila
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins