Cell surface molecule, Klingon, mediates the refinement of synaptic specificity in the Drosophila visual system

Abstract

In the Drosophila brain, neurons form genetically specified synaptic connections with defined neuronal targets. It is proposed that each central nervous system neuron expresses specific cell surface proteins, which act as identification tags. Through an RNAi screen of cell surface molecules in the Drosophila visual system, we found that the cell adhesion molecule Klingon (Klg) plays an important role in repressing the ectopic formation of extended axons, preventing the formation of excessive synapses. Cell-specific manipulation of klg showed that Klg is required in both photoreceptors and the glia, suggesting that the balanced homophilic interaction between photoreceptor axons and the glia is required for normal synapse formation. Previous studies suggested that Klg binds to cDIP and our genetic analyses indicate that cDIP is required in glia for ectopic synaptic repression. These data suggest that Klg play a critical role together with cDIP in refining synaptic specificity and preventing unnecessary connections in the brain.

Keywords: Drosophila visual system; Klingon; filopodia extension; photoreceptor axon; synaptic specificity.