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Abstract
News & Views | Published: 27 December 2010
Orphan nuclear receptors control neuronal remodeling during fly metamorphosis
Nature Neuroscience volume 14, pages 6–7 (2011) | Download Citation
Pruning of excess branches is essential for the maturation of developing neuronal circuits. Cross-talk between TGF-β signaling and two antagonistic orphan nuclear receptors governs the pruning of larval γ neurons in the Drosophila pupa.
Neural circuits are remodeled as the brain matures or acquires new functions. Such developmental remodeling involves complex cellular changes that are tightly regulated in space and time. During metamorphosis of holometabolous insect brains, most larval functional neurons are rewired into the adult circuitry, and study of these processes has been particularly fruitful for the elucidation of the mechanisms that underlie neuron remodeling1. In metamorphosing Drosophila, nuclear signaling of the steroid hormone receptor ecdysone receptor B1 isoform (EcR-B1) cell-autonomously orchestrates neuron remodeling. Only neurons destined to remodel upregulate EcR-B1 expression before a crucial pre-pupal ecdysone pulse2. It is therefore necessary to determine the mechanisms that pattern EcR-B1 expression to understand how developmental neuronal remodeling is programmed in Drosophila.
Janelia Authors
