Brain Development in Drosophila melanogaster / Edition 1

by Gerhard Martin Technau

Overview

The central nervous system (CNS) represents the organ with the highest structural and functional complexity. Accordingly, uncovering the mechanisms leading to cell diversity, patterning and connectivity in the CNS is one of the major challenges in developmental biology. The developing CNS of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster is an ideal model system to study these processes. Several principle questions regarding neurogenesis (like stem cell formation, cell fate specification, axonal pathfinding) have been addressed in Drosophila by focusing on the relatively simply structured truncal parts of the nervous system. This book provides an overview of some major facets of recent research on Drosophila brain development.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780387782607
Publisher:	Springer New York
Publication date:	03/28/2008
Series:	Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology , #628
Edition description:	2008
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	7.01(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.02(d)

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

1. The Development of the Drosophila Larval Brain........... 1

Volker Hartenstein, Shana Spindler, Wayne Pereanu and Siaumin Fung

Abstract................................................................................................................................. 1

Synopsis of the Phases and Elements of Drosophila Brain Development........................ 1

Progenitors of the Drosophila Brain: Neuroblasts and Ganglion Mother Cells............. 3

The Generic Cell Types of the Drosophila Brain................................................................ 8

Neuroanatomy of the Developing Drosophila Brain: The Systems of Lineages,

Tracts and Compartments......................................................................................... 17

Outlook............................................................................................................................... 29

2. Anteroposterior Regionalization of the Brain:

Genetic and Comparative Aspects............................................. 32

Robert Lichtneckert and Heinrich Reichert

Abstract............................................................................................................................... 32

Introduction........................................................................................................................ 32

The Cephalic Gap Genes Otd/Otx and Ems/Emx Control Anterior

Brain Development..................................................................................................... 34

The Hox Genes Pattern the Posterior Brain..................................................................... 36

Evidence for a Tripartite Organization of the Brain....................................................... 37

3. Dorsoventral Paterning of the Brain:

A Comparative Approach.................................................................. 42

Rolf Urbach and Gerhard M. Technau

Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 42

Introduction........................................................................................................................ 42

DV Patterning of the Truncal Part of the CNS in Drosophila and vertebrates............ 45

DV patterning of the brain in Drosophila........................................................................ 48

A comparison with DV regionalization of the vertebrate telencephalon................... 52

Conclusions......................................................................................................................... 53

xii Contents

4. Disection of the Embryonic Brain Using

Photoactivated Gene Expresion.............................................. 57

Jonathan Minden

Abstract............................................................................................................................... 57

Introduction........................................................................................................................ 57

Procephalic Blastoderm Fate Map.................................................................................... 58

Brain-Forming Mitotic Domains Populate Distinct Brain Regions............................... 58

Conclusion.......................................................................................................................... 67

5. Design of the Larval Chemosensory System....................... 69

Reinhard F. Sker

Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 69

Introduction........................................................................................................................ 69

Chemosensory Organs of the Larval Head...................................................................... 70

Olfactory System................................................................................................................. 71

Gustatory System................................................................................................................ 77

The Drosophila Larva as a Model for Smell and Taste.................................................... 78

6. Development of the Drosophila Olfactory System...... 82

Veronica Rodrigues and Thomas Hummel

Abstract............................................................................................................................... 82

Introduction........................................................................................................................ 82

Organization of the Drosophila Adult Olfactory System................................................. 84

Specification of the Olfactory Sense Organs.................................................................... 84

Olfactory Lineages Revisited............................................................................................. 87

Origin of Glial Cells............................................................................................................ 89

Development of ORN Connectivity................................................................................... 89

Olfactory Map Organization............................................................................................. 90

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of ORN Wiring Specificity.................................. 91

Specification of Projection Neurons.................................................................................. 92

Development of PN Dendrites............................................................................................ 95

Concluding Remarks.......................................................................................................... 96

7. The Olfactory Sensory Map in Drosophila.......................... 102

Philippe P. Laissue and Leslie B. Vosshall

Abstract............................................................................................................................. 102

Introduction...................................................................................................................... 102

Olfactory Organs and Olfactory Sensory Neurons of Drosophila................................ 103

Odorant Receptor Gene Expression................................................................................ 104

Ligand Tuning Profiles..................................................................................................... 105

A Receptor-Based Map of Glomerular Projections....................................................... 108

Sexual Dimorphism in the Drosophila Olfactory System...............................................111

Concluding Remarks........................................................................................................ 112

8. Optic Lobe Development.................................................................115

Karl-Friedrich Fischbach and Peter Robin Hiesinger

Abstract............................................................................................................................. 115

Introduction...................................................................................................................... 115

The Adult Visual System Is Organized into Parallel Visuotoptic

Functional Pathways................................................................................................. 116

Lamina Development........................................................................................................ 120

Medulla and Lobula Complex Development.................................................................. 126

Concluding Remarks........................................................................................................ 131

9. Clonal Unit Architecture of the Adult Fly Brain........ 137

Kei Ito and Takeshi Awasaki

Abstract............................................................................................................................. 137

Introduction...................................................................................................................... 137

Structure of the Adult Brain............................................................................................ 137

Techniques for Visualising Clonally Related Progeny................................................... 139

Clonal Unit Architecture in the Adult Brain.................................................................. 147

Formation of the Clonal Units During Development..................................................... 150

Functional Importance of the Clonal Units.................................................................... 154

Conclusion........................................................................................................................ 156

INDEX.............................................................................................................................TBA