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  • The EMBO Journal (2006) 25, 615 - 627
  • doi:10.1038/sj.emboj.7600962

Published online: 26 January 2006

Baboon/dSmad2 TGF-bold beta signaling is required during late larval stage for development of adult-specific neurons

Xiaoyan Zheng1, Christopher T Zugates1, Zouyan Lu1, Lei Shi2, Jia-min Bai3 and Tzumin Lee2

  1. Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
  2. Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
  3. Neuroscience Program, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA

Correspondence to:

Tzumin Lee, Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA. Tel.: +1 508 856 7866; Fax: +1 508 856 8579; E-mail: tzumin.lee@umassmed.edu

Received 5 August 2005; Accepted 21 December 2005

The intermingling of larval functional neurons with adult-specific neurons during metamorphosis contributes to the development of the adult Drosophila brain. To better understand this process, we characterized the development of a dorsal cluster (DC) of Atonal-positive neurons that are born at early larval stages but do not undergo extensive morphogenesis until pupal formation. We found that Baboon(Babo)/dSmad2-mediated TGF-beta signaling, known to be essential for remodeling of larval functional neurons, is also indispensable for proper morphogenesis of these adult-specific neurons. Mosaic analysis reveals slowed development of mutant DC neurons, as evidenced by delays in both neuronal morphogenesis and atonal expression. We observe similar phenomena in other adult-specific neurons. We further demonstrate that Babo/dSmad2 operates autonomously in individual neurons and specifically during the late larval stage. Our results suggest that Babo/dSmad2 signaling prior to metamorphosis may be widely required to prepare neurons for the dynamic environment present during metamorphosis.

  • Keywords:

    • metamorphosis,
    • neuronal morphogenesis,
    • TGF-beta