Asymmetric localization of numb autonomously determines sibling neuron identity in the Drosophila CNS
Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 1995 papers
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) represents an excellent model system for examining how a multitude of unique cell fates are specified. We find that asymmetric localization of the numb protein autonomously controls a binary cell fate decision in the Drosophila CNS. The simplest lineage in the Drosophila CNS is that of the MP2 precursor: it divides unequally to generate the dMP2 and vMP2 neurons. Both are interneurons but project in different directions: dMP2 projects its axon posteriorly while vMP2 projects anteriorly. During MP2 mitosis, numb is localized into dMP2 and excluded from vMP2. Loss of numb transforms dMP2 into vMP2, whereas ectopic numb produces the opposite transformation of vMP2 into dMP2. Thus, numb is asymmetrically localized in the dividing MP2 and is necessary and sufficient to autonomously specify dMP2 neuronal identity.
Related Papers
- → Lineage-specific effects of Notch/Numb signaling in post-embryonic development of the Drosophila brain(2009)70 cited
- → Dronc caspase exerts a non-apoptotic function to restrain phospho-Numb-induced ectopic neuroblast formation in Drosophila(2011)37 cited
- → Drosophila Aurora-A kinase inhibits neuroblast self-renewal by regulating aPKC/Numb cortical polarity and spindle orientation(2006)257 cited
- → Cullin3 promotes stem cell progeny differentiation by facilitating aPKC-directed asymmetric Numb localization(2020)
- → Faculty Opinions recommendation of Drosophila Aurora-A kinase inhibits neuroblast self-renewal by regulating aPKC/Numb cortical polarity and spindle orientation.(2007)