The Ret receptor regulates sensory neuron dendrite growth and integrin mediated adhesion

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Abstract

Neurons develop highly stereotyped receptive fields by coordinated growth of their dendrites. Although cell surface cues play a major role in this process, few dendrite specific signals have been identified to date. We conducted an in vivo RNAi screen in Drosophila class IV dendritic arborization (C4da) neurons and identified the conserved Ret receptor, known to play a role in axon guidance, as an important regulator of dendrite development. The loss of Ret results in severe dendrite defects due to loss of extracellular matrix adhesion, thus impairing growth within a 2D plane. We provide evidence that Ret interacts with integrins to regulate dendrite adhesion via rac1. In addition, Ret is required for dendrite stability and normal F-actin distribution suggesting it has an essential role in dendrite maintenance. We propose novel functions for Ret as a regulator in dendrite patterning and adhesion distinct from its role in axon guidance.

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Peter Soba

Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Campus, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

For correspondence
peter.soba@zmnh.uni-hamburg.de

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The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Chun Han

Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Yi Zheng

Department of Physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States

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The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Daniel Perea

Gut Signalling and Metabolism Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom

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The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Irene Miguel-Aliaga

Gut Signalling and Metabolism Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom

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The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Lily Yeh Jan

Department of Physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Yuh Nung Jan

Department of Physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States

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The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

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