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The European Journal of Neuroscience Jan 2020A central question in the circadian biology field concerns the mechanisms that translate ~24-hr oscillations of the molecular clock into overt rhythms. Drosophila... (Review)
Review
A central question in the circadian biology field concerns the mechanisms that translate ~24-hr oscillations of the molecular clock into overt rhythms. Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful system that provided the first understanding of how molecular clocks are generated and is now illuminating the neural basis of circadian behavior. The identity of ~150 clock neurons in the Drosophila brain and their roles in shaping circadian rhythms of locomotor activity have been described before. This review summarizes mechanisms that transmit time-of-day signals from the clock, within the clock network as well as downstream of it. We also discuss the identification of functional multisynaptic circuits between clock neurons and output neurons that regulate locomotor activity.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Circadian Clocks; Circadian Rhythm; Drosophila; Drosophila Proteins; Drosophila melanogaster
PubMed: 30059181
DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14092 -
Glia Jan 2019Glial cells constitute without any dispute an essential element in providing an efficiently operating nervous system. Work in many labs over the last decades has... (Review)
Review
Glial cells constitute without any dispute an essential element in providing an efficiently operating nervous system. Work in many labs over the last decades has demonstrated that neuronal function, from action potential generation to its propagation, from eliciting synaptic responses to the subsequent postsynaptic integration, is evolutionarily highly conserved. Likewise, the biology of glial cells appears conserved in its core elements and therefore, a deeper understanding of glial cells is expected to benefit from analyzing model organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster. Drosophila is particularly well suited for studying glial biology since in the fly nervous system only a limited number of glial cells exists, which can be individually identified based on position and a set of molecular markers. In combination with the well-known genetic tool box an unprecedented level of analysis is feasible, that not only can help to identify novel molecules and principles governing glial cell function but also will help to better understand glial functions first identified in the mammalian nervous system. Here we review the current knowledge on Drosophila glia to spark interest in using this system to analyze complex glial traits in the future.
Topics: Animals; Cell Differentiation; Drosophila; Drosophila Proteins; Drosophila melanogaster; Models, Animal; Neuroglia; Neurons
PubMed: 30443934
DOI: 10.1002/glia.23459 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2018Transcription factors (TFs) play essential roles in the transcriptional regulation of functional genes, and are involved in diverse physiological processes in living... (Review)
Review
Transcription factors (TFs) play essential roles in the transcriptional regulation of functional genes, and are involved in diverse physiological processes in living organisms. The fruit fly , a simple and easily manipulated organismal model, has been extensively applied to study the biological functions of TFs and their related transcriptional regulation mechanisms. It is noteworthy that with the development of genetic tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 and the next-generation genome sequencing techniques in recent years, identification and dissection the complex genetic regulatory networks of TFs have also made great progress in other insects beyond . However, unfortunately, there is no comprehensive review that systematically summarizes the structures and biological functions of TFs in both model and non-model insects. Here, we spend extensive effort in collecting vast related studies, and attempt to provide an impartial overview of the progress of the structure and biological functions of current documented TFs in insects, as well as the classical and emerging research methods for studying their regulatory functions. Consequently, considering the importance of versatile TFs in orchestrating diverse insect physiological processes, this review will assist a growing number of entomologists to interrogate this understudied field, and to propel the progress of their contributions to pest control and even human health.
Topics: Animals; Drosophila; Drosophila Proteins; Evolution, Molecular; Transcription Factors; Transcriptional Activation
PubMed: 30469390
DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113691 -
Genetics Apr 2018This FlyBook chapter summarizes the history and the current state of our understanding of the Wingless signaling pathway. Wingless, the fly homolog of the mammalian Wnt... (Review)
Review
This FlyBook chapter summarizes the history and the current state of our understanding of the Wingless signaling pathway. Wingless, the fly homolog of the mammalian Wnt oncoproteins, plays a central role in pattern generation during development. Much of what we know about the pathway was learned from genetic and molecular experiments in , and the core pathway works the same way in vertebrates. Like most growth factor pathways, extracellular Wingless/Wnt binds to a cell surface complex to transduce signal across the plasma membrane, triggering a series of intracellular events that lead to transcriptional changes in the nucleus. Unlike most growth factor pathways, the intracellular events regulate the protein stability of a key effector molecule, in this case Armadillo/β-catenin. A number of mysteries remain about how the "destruction complex" destabilizes β-catenin and how this process is inactivated by the ligand-bound receptor complex, so this review of the field can only serve as a snapshot of the work in progress.
Topics: Animals; Biomarkers; Body Patterning; Drosophila; Drosophila Proteins; Evolution, Molecular; Genetic Association Studies; Humans; Morphogenesis; Phenotype; Wnt Signaling Pathway; Wnt1 Protein
PubMed: 29618590
DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.300157 -
Genome Dec 2022Autophagy is an important process that maintains adult tissue homeostasis and functions by protecting cells in autonomous and non-cell-autonomous ways. By degrading... (Review)
Review
Autophagy is an important process that maintains adult tissue homeostasis and functions by protecting cells in autonomous and non-cell-autonomous ways. By degrading toxic components or proteins involved in cell signaling pathways, autophagy preserves the balance among stem cells, progenitors, and differentiated cells in various tissues. In this minireview, we discuss recent studies performed in that highlight new roles of autophagy in adult cell fate decisions, including quiescence, proliferation, differentiation, and death.
Topics: Animals; Drosophila; Cell Differentiation; Autophagy; Stem Cells; Drosophila Proteins
PubMed: 36240515
DOI: 10.1139/gen-2022-0069 -
Kidney International May 2023Galloway-Mowat syndrome is a neurorenal syndrome that has been linked with defective transfer RNA and protein translation caused by variants in the multiprotein complex...
Galloway-Mowat syndrome is a neurorenal syndrome that has been linked with defective transfer RNA and protein translation caused by variants in the multiprotein complex KEOPS. In the kidney, this syndrome seems to primarily affect the podocytes, but the pathogenesis has remained unclear. In this issue of Kidney International, Krausel et al. use Drosophila nephrocytes to link endoplasmic reticulum stress with defects in the slit diaphragm.
Topics: Animals; Membrane Proteins; Drosophila; Podocytes; Nephrosis; Drosophila Proteins
PubMed: 37085254
DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2023.01.028 -
Cell Reports Nov 2023Tumor-suppressive cell competition (TSCC) is a conserved surveillance mechanism in which neighboring cells actively eliminate oncogenic cells. Despite overwhelming...
Tumor-suppressive cell competition (TSCC) is a conserved surveillance mechanism in which neighboring cells actively eliminate oncogenic cells. Despite overwhelming studies showing that the unfolded protein response (UPR) is dysregulated in various tumors, it remains debatable whether the UPR restrains or promotes tumorigenesis. Here, using Drosophila eye epithelium as a model, we uncover a surprising decisive role of the Ire1 branch of the UPR in regulating cell polarity gene scribble (scrib) loss-induced TSCC. Both mutation and hyperactivation of Ire1 accelerate elimination of scrib clones via inducing apoptosis and autophagy, respectively. Unexpectedly, relative Ire1 activity is also crucial for determining loser cell fate, as dysregulating Ire1 signaling in the surrounding healthy cells reversed the "loser" status of scrib clones by decreasing their apoptosis. Furthermore, we show that Ire1 is required for cell competition in mammalian cells. Together, these findings provide molecular insights into scrib-mediated TSCC and highlight Ire1 as a key determinant of loser cell fate.
Topics: Animals; Cell Competition; Drosophila; Drosophila Proteins; Mammals; Neoplasms; Signal Transduction; Unfolded Protein Response
PubMed: 37924514
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113303 -
Genes Feb 2020Behavior is a readout of neural function. Therefore, any difference in behavior among different species is, in theory, an outcome of interspecies diversification in the... (Review)
Review
Behavior is a readout of neural function. Therefore, any difference in behavior among different species is, in theory, an outcome of interspecies diversification in the structure and/or function of the nervous system. However, the neural diversity underlying the species-specificity in behavioral traits and its genetic basis have been poorly understood. In this article, we discuss potential neural substrates for species differences in the courtship pulse song frequency and mating partner choice in the subgroup. We also discuss possible neurogenetic mechanisms whereby a novel behavioral repertoire emerges based on the study of nuptial gift transfer, a trait unique to in the genus . We found that the conserved central circuit composed primarily of -expressing neurons (the -circuit) serves for the execution of courtship behavior, whereas the sensory pathways impinging onto the -circuit or the motor pathways downstream of the -circuit are susceptible to changes associated with behavioral species differences.
Topics: Animals; Drosophila Proteins; Drosophila melanogaster; Neural Pathways; Neurons; Sexual Behavior, Animal
PubMed: 32024133
DOI: 10.3390/genes11020157 -
Life Science Alliance May 2024Ciliary defects cause several ciliopathies, some of which have late onset, suggesting cilia are actively maintained. Still, we have a poor understanding of the...
Ciliary defects cause several ciliopathies, some of which have late onset, suggesting cilia are actively maintained. Still, we have a poor understanding of the mechanisms underlying their maintenance. Here, we show r IFT88 (IFT88/nompB) continues to move along fully formed sensory cilia. We further identify Inactive, a TRPV channel subunit involved in hearing and negative-gravitaxis behaviour, and a yet uncharacterised Guanylyl Cyclase 2d (Gucy2d/CG34357) as IFT88 cargoes. We also show IFT88 binding to the cyclase´s intracellular part, which is evolutionarily conserved and mutated in several degenerative retinal diseases, is important for the ciliary localisation of Gucy2d. Finally, acute knockdown of both IFT88 and Gucy2d in ciliated neurons of adult flies caused defects in the maintenance of cilium function, impairing hearing and negative-gravitaxis behaviour, but did not significantly affect ciliary ultrastructure. We conclude that the sensory ciliary function underlying hearing in the adult fly requires an active maintenance program which involves IFT88 and at least two of its signalling transmembrane cargoes, Gucy2d and Inactive.
Topics: Animals; Drosophila; Cilia; Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophila Proteins; Hearing
PubMed: 38373798
DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302289 -
Developmental Cell Jun 2021Toll receptors are key determinants of planar polarity during Drosophila gastrulation. Two papers in the current issue of Developmental Cell now identify key features of...
Toll receptors are key determinants of planar polarity during Drosophila gastrulation. Two papers in the current issue of Developmental Cell now identify key features of their downstream signaling that allow cell symmetry to be broken by apparently non-polarized Toll receptors.
Topics: Animals; Drosophila; Drosophila Proteins; Gastrulation; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 34102101
DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.05.013