Abstract
The molecular mechanisms controlling the ability of motor axons to recognize their appropriate muscle targets were dissected using Drosophila genetics to add or subtract Netrin A, Netrin B, Semaphorin II, and Fasciclin II alone or in combination. Fas II and Sema II are expressed by all muscles where they promote (Fas II) or inhibit (Sema II) promiscuous synaptogenesis. NetB is expressed by a subset of muscles where it attracts some axons and repels others. However, growth cones in this system apparently do not rely solely on single molecular labels on individual targets. Rather, these growth cones assess the relative balance of attractive and repulsive forces and select their targets based on the combinatorial and simultaneous input of multiple cues.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Axons / physiology*
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Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / genetics
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Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / physiology*
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Drosophila Proteins / genetics
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Drosophila Proteins / physiology*
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Drosophila melanogaster / embryology
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Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
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Drosophila melanogaster / physiology*
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Efferent Pathways / physiology
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Motor Neurons / physiology*
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Muscle, Skeletal / embryology
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Muscle, Skeletal / innervation
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Mutation
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Nerve Growth Factors / genetics
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Nerve Growth Factors / physiology*
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
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Synapses / physiology
Substances
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Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
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Drosophila Proteins
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Nerve Growth Factors
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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NetB protein, Drosophila
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fasciclin II