Smooth, a hnRNP encoding gene, controls axonal navigation in Drosophila

• Published in: Genes to cells : devoted to molecular & cellular mechanisms 2005-02, Vol.10 (2), p.119-125
• Main Authors: Layalle, Sophie, Coessens, Elise, Ghysen, Alain, Dambly‐Chaudière, Christine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Axons; Axons - physiology; Cell Differentiation; Cell Lineage; Development Biology; Drosophila; Drosophila - embryology; Drosophila - growth & development; Drosophila - metabolism; Drosophila Proteins; Drosophila Proteins - genetics; Drosophila Proteins - metabolism; Extremities; Extremities - embryology; Extremities - growth & development; Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins; Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins - genetics; Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins - metabolism; Life Sciences; Metamorphosis, Biological; Mutation; Neurons, Afferent; Neurons, Afferent - cytology; Neurons, Afferent - metabolism; RNA Splicing; RNA Transport; RNA, Messenger; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Sense Organs; Sense Organs - embryology; Sense Organs - growth & development; Sense Organs - metabolism; Wing; Wings, Animal - embryology; Wings, Animal - growth & development; Wings, Animal - metabolism
• ISSN: 1356-9597; 1365-2443
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2443.2005.00822.x

We identified the gene smooth (sm) in a screen for genes that are specifically expressed within the lineage that forms the adult chemosensory bristles. sm is expressed in most or all differentiating neurones during embryogenesis, but is specifically expressed in the neurones of the adult chemosensory organs on the wings and legs during metamorphosis. The inactivation of sm results in axonal defects in the chemosensory neurones, in the inability of mutant flies to feed and in their precocious death. As sm belongs to a family of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP), we propose that the control of axonal navigation and connectivity is partly achieved at the level of mRNA splicing or exporting.