Publications [#200592] of Nina T Sherwood
search PubMed.Papers Submitted
- Stewart AS, Tsubouchi A, Caldwell J, Rolls MM, Tracey WD, Sherwood NT, The microtubule severing protein Katanin p60-like1 promotes microtubule growth and terminal dendrite stability in the larval class IV sensory neurons of Drosophila,
Journal of Neuroscience
(October, 2011) (under revision.) .
(last updated on 2012/02/21)Abstract:
Dendrite shape is considered a defining component of neuronal function. Yet, the mechanisms specifying diverse dendritic morphologies, and the extent to which their functioning depends on these morphologies, remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate a requirement for the microtubule severing protein Katanin p60-like 1 (Kat-60L1) in regulating the elaborate branch morphology and nocifensive functions of Drosophila larval class IV dendritic arborization (da) neuron dendrites. Comparative analysis of cell-type specific transcripts shows dramatic enrichment of kat-60L1 in class IV neurons relative to the sparsely branched class I neurons, supporting a role for Kat-60L1 in the establishment of complex arbor morphology. Kat-60L1 class IV mutant dendrites are reduced in branching and length. Live time-lapse imaging of branching events reveals a requirement for Kat-60L1 in stabilizing dynamic, filopodia-like nascent branches during terminal branch outgrowth. Mutant dendrites furthermore exhibit fewer EB1-GFP labeled polymerizing microtubules, supporting a role for Kat-60L1 in promoting microtubule growth within class IV dendrites to stabilize nascent branches for the establishment of the full arbor complexity of these neurons. These morphological defects are paralleled by a reduction in nocifensive responsiveness mediated by these neurons, indicating a tight correlation between neuronal function and the full extent of the dendritic arbor. In contrast, class IV axons are unaffected, demonstrating a dendrite-specific requirement for Kat-60L1. These data support a key role for the differential utilization of microtubule severing in generating distinct neuronal morphologies and subsequent function.
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