Brain-specific-homeobox is required for the specification of neuronal types in the Drosophila optic lobe

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2013.02.012Get rights and content
Under an Elsevier user license
open archive

Abstract

The Drosophila optic lobe comprises a wide variety of neurons forming laminar and columnar structures similar to the mammalian brain. The Drosophila optic lobe may provide an excellent model to investigate various processes of brain development. However, it is poorly understood how neuronal specification is regulated in the optic lobe to form a complicated structure. Here we show that the Brain-specific-homeobox (Bsh) protein, which is expressed in the lamina and medulla ganglia, is involved in specifying neuronal identity. Bsh is expressed in L4 and L5 lamina neurons and in Mi1 medulla neurons. Analyses of loss-of-function and gain-of-function clones suggest that Bsh is required and largely sufficient for Mi1 specification in the medulla and L4 specification in the lamina. Additionally, Bsh is at least required for L5 specification. In the absence of Bsh, L5 is transformed into glial cells.

Highlights

► Roles of brain-specific-homeobox (bsh) in Drosophila optic lobe development are shown. ► bsh is required and largely sufficient for Mi1 type neuron formation in the medulla. ► bsh is required and largely sufficient for L4 type neuron formation in the lamina. ► bsh is at least required for L5 type neuron formation in the lamina.

Keywords

Drosophila
Visual system
Optic lobe
Lamina: medulla
Brain-specific-homeobox
Bsx

Cited by (0)