Work

Neuron-secreted chemokine-like Orion interacts with the glial receptor Draper during mushroom body neuronal remodeling in Drosophila

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Across the animal kingdom, neuronal remodeling is a crucial developmental mechanism to refine neurite targeting necessary for both maturation and function of neural circuits. The neuronal chemokine-like Orion is essential for astrocyte infiltration and likely for phagocytosis during mushroom body γ-neuron remodeling during metamorphosis in Drosophila . The Drpr phagocytic receptor is a critical and well-studied regulator of many aspects of neuronal remodeling, where it is required for neurite pruning and cell body removal. In this study, we show a drpr null allele displaying a mushroom body (MB)-pruning phenotype very similar, if not identical, to that of orion null alleles. Furthermore, when Orion is permanently tethered to the surface of the γ-axons, we show strong genetic interactions between neuronal Orion and glial Drpr. These results strongly suggest that Drpr is the glial receptor for Orion in mushroom body neuronal remodeling.

Source: Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1664285

Authors: Clarisse Perron, Ana Boulanger, Jean-Maurice Dura

Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Montpellier, Institut de Génétique Humaine

Language: English

Topic: Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research

Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801

Funders: Agence Nationale de la Recherche, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, National Institutes of Health