Single-cell RNA sequencing of motoneurons identifies regulators of synaptic wiring in Drosophila embryos

Velten J, Gao X, Van Nierop Y Sanchez P, Domsch K, Agarwal R, Bognar L, Paulsen M, Velten L, Lohmann I (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Molecular Systems Biology Nature Publishing Group: Open Access Journals - Option B / European Molecular Biology Organization

Book Volume: 18

Pages Range: e10255-

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.15252/msb.202110255

Abstract

The correct wiring of neuronal circuits is one of the most complex processes in development, since axons form highly specific connections out of a vast number of possibilities. Circuit structure is genetically determined in vertebrates and invertebrates, but the mechanisms guiding each axon to precisely innervate a unique pre-specified target cell are poorly understood. We investigated Drosophila embryonic motoneurons using single-cell genomics, imaging, and genetics. We show that a cell-specific combination of homeodomain transcription factors and downstream immunoglobulin domain proteins is expressed in individual cells and plays an important role in determining cell-specific connections between differentiated motoneurons and target muscles. We provide genetic evidence for a functional role of five homeodomain transcription factors and four immunoglobulins in the neuromuscular wiring. Knockdown and ectopic expression of these homeodomain transcription factors induces cell-specific synaptic wiring defects that are partly phenocopied by genetic modulations of their immunoglobulin targets. Taken together, our data suggest that homeodomain transcription factor and immunoglobulin molecule expression could be directly linked and function as a crucial determinant of neuronal circuit structure.

Involved external institutions

Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg DE Germany (DE) European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) DE Germany (DE) Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) ES Spain (ES)

How to cite

APA:

Velten, J., Gao, X., Van Nierop Y Sanchez, P., Domsch, K., Agarwal, R., Bognar, L.,... Lohmann, I. (2022). Single-cell RNA sequencing of motoneurons identifies regulators of synaptic wiring in Drosophila embryos. Molecular Systems Biology, 18(3), e10255-. https://dx.doi.org/10.15252/msb.202110255

MLA:

Velten, Jessica, et al. "Single-cell RNA sequencing of motoneurons identifies regulators of synaptic wiring in Drosophila embryos." Molecular Systems Biology 18.3 (2022): e10255-.

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