scholarly journals The scoop on the fly brain: glial engulfment functions in Drosophila

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary A. Logan ◽  
Marc R. Freeman

AbstractGlial cells provide support and protection for neurons in the embryonic and adult brain, mediated in part through the phagocytic activity of glia. Glial cells engulf apoptotic cells and pruned neurites from the developing nervous system, and also clear degenerating neuronal debris from the adult brain after neural trauma. Studies indicate that Drosophila melanogaster is an ideal model system to elucidate the mechanisms of engulfment by glia. The recent studies reviewed here show that many features of glial engulfment are conserved across species and argue that work in Drosophila will provide valuable cellular and molecular insight into glial engulfment activity in mammals.

1990 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 817-828 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Pauli ◽  
C H Tonka ◽  
A Tissieres ◽  
A P Arrigo

The alpha-crystallin-related heat shock (stress) protein hsp27 is expressed in absence of heat shock during Drosophila melanogaster development. Here, we describe the tissue distribution of this protein using an immunoaffinity-purified antibody. In embryos, hsp27 translated from maternal RNA is uniformly distributed, except in the yolk. During the first, second, and early third larval stages, hsp27 expression is restricted to the brain and the gonads. These tissues are characterized by a high level of proliferating cells. In late third instar larvae and early pupae, in addition to the central nervous system and the gonads, all the imaginal discs synthesize hsp27. The disc expression seems restricted to the beginning of their differentiation since it disappears during the second half of the pupal stage: no more hsp27 is observed in the disc-derived adult organs. In adults, hsp27 is still present in some regions of the central nervous system, and is also expressed in the male and female germ lines where it accumulates in mature sperm and oocytes. The transcript and the protein accumulate in oocytes since the onset of vitellogenesis with a uniform distribution similar to that found in embryos. The adult germ lines transcribe hsp27 gene while no transcript is detected in the late pupal and adult brain. These results suggest multiple roles of hsp27 during Drosophila development which may be related to both the proliferative and differentiated states of the tissues.


1995 ◽  
Vol 156 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Sue Renzaglia ◽  
Thomas R. Warne

Development ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Vincent ◽  
J.L. Vonesch ◽  
A. Giangrande

Glial cells constitute the second component of the nervous system and are important during neuronal development. In this paper we describe a gene, glial cell deficient, (glide), that is necessary for glial cell fate commitment in Drosophila melanogaster. Mutations at the glide locus prevent glial cell determination in the embryonic central and peripheral nervous system. Moreover, we show that the absence of glial cells is the consequence of a cell fate switch from glia to neurones. This suggests the existence of a multipotent precursor cells in the nervous system. glide mutants also display defects in axonal navigation, which confirms and extends previous results indicating a role for glial cells in these processes.


Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela Rigoni ◽  
Samuele Negro

The peripheral nervous system has retained through evolution the capacity to repair and regenerate after assault from a variety of physical, chemical, or biological pathogens. Regeneration relies on the intrinsic abilities of peripheral neurons and on a permissive environment, and it is driven by an intense interplay among neurons, the glia, muscles, the basal lamina, and the immune system. Indeed, extrinsic signals from the milieu of the injury site superimpose on genetic and epigenetic mechanisms to modulate cell intrinsic programs. Here, we will review the main intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms allowing severed peripheral axons to re-grow, and discuss some alarm mediators and pro-regenerative molecules and pathways involved in the process, highlighting the role of Schwann cells as central hubs coordinating multiple signals. A particular focus will be provided on regeneration at the neuromuscular junction, an ideal model system whose manipulation can contribute to the identification of crucial mediators of nerve re-growth. A brief overview on regeneration at sensory terminals is also included.


2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 656-660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. McKinnon ◽  
Susan K. McLaughlin ◽  
Manuela Kapsetaki ◽  
Robert F. Margolskee

ABSTRACT Sc1 is an extracellular matrix-associated protein whose function is unknown. During early embryonic development, Sc1 is widely expressed, and from embryonic day 12 (E12), Sc1 is expressed primarily in the developing nervous system. This switch in Sc1 expression at E12 suggests an importance for nervous-system development. To gain insight into Sc1 function, we used gene targeting to inactivate mouse Sc1. The Sc1-null mice showed no obvious deficits in any organs. These mice were born at the expected ratios, were fertile, and had no obvious histological abnormalities, and their long-term survival did not differ from littermate controls. Therefore, the function of Sc1 during development is not critical or, in its absence, is subserved by another protein.


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