Asynchronous transcription and translation of neurotransmitter-related genes characterize the initial stages of neuronal maturation in Drosophila
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: Neuron specification and maturation are essential for proper central nervous system development. However, the precise mechanisms that govern neuronal maturation, essential to shape and maintain neuronal circuitry, remain poorly understood. Here, we analyse early-born secondary neurons in the Drosophila larval brain, revealing that the early maturation of secondary neurons goes through 3 consecutive phases: (1) Immediately after birth, neurons express pan-neuronal markers but do not transcribe terminal differentiation genes; (2) Transcription of terminal differentiation genes, such as neurotransmitter-related genes VGlut, ChAT, or Gad1, starts shortly after neuron birth, but these transcripts are, however, not translated; (3) Translation of neurotransmitter-related genes only begins several hours later in mid-pupa stages in a coordinated manner with animal developmental stage, albeit in an ecdysone-independent manner. These results support a model where temporal regulation of transcription and translation of neurotransmitter-related genes is an important mechanism to coordinate neuron maturation with brain development.
Source: PLoS Biology
Language: English
Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $5,500
Awards: G1219913396, Metabolic and temporal regulation of stem cell fate, G2006444051, G3349028985, G3788812306, Metabolic and Timed Control of Stem Cell Fate in the Developing Animal, G434337789, G449503915, G4693581347, G4880193428, Developmental and evolutionary basis of neuronal diversity, G4937468798, G5308395089, G5566074090, G5573185684, G5681386477, G6099097669, G6950327826, Metabolic and temporal regulation of stem cell fate, G8858395165, G9000078936, G9000089312, Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center at Indiana University
OpenAlex ID: W4377115331