A microtubule polymerase is required for microtubule orientation and dendrite pruning in Drosophila.
Drosophila class IV ddaC neurons selectively prune all larval dendrites to refine the nervous system during metamorphosis. During dendrite pruning, severing of proximal dendrites is preceded by local microtubule (MT) disassembly. Here, we identify an unexpected role of Mini spindles (Msps), a conserved MT polymerase, in governing dendrite pruning. Msps ... associates with another MT-associated protein TACC, and both stabilize each other in ddaC neurons. Moreover, Msps and TACC are required to orient minus-end-out MTs in dendrites. We further show that the functions of msps in dendritic MT orientation and dendrite pruning are antagonized by the kinesin-13 MT depolymerase Klp10A. Excessive MT depolymerization, which is induced by pharmacological treatment and katanin overexpression, also perturbs dendritic MT orientation and dendrite pruning, phenocopying msps mutants. Thus, we demonstrate that the MT polymerase Msps is required to form dendritic minus-end-out MTs and thereby promotes dendrite pruning in Drosophila sensory neurons.
Mesh Terms:
Animals, DNA-Binding Proteins, Drosophila, Drosophila Proteins, Embryonic Development, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Genes, Homeobox, Genes, Insect, Genitalia, Female, Homeodomain Proteins, Morphogenesis, Nuclear Proteins, Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid, Transcription Factors
Animals, DNA-Binding Proteins, Drosophila, Drosophila Proteins, Embryonic Development, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Genes, Homeobox, Genes, Insect, Genitalia, Female, Homeodomain Proteins, Morphogenesis, Nuclear Proteins, Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid, Transcription Factors
EMBO J
Date: May. 18, 2020
PubMed ID: 32267553
View in: Pubmed Google Scholar
Download Curated Data For This Publication
225296
Switch View:
- Interactions 4