Maturation of a central brain flight circuit in Drosophila requires Fz2/Ca2+ signaling

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Abstract

The final identity of a differentiated neuron is determined by multiple signaling events, including activity dependent calcium transients. Non-canonical Frizzled2 (Fz2) signaling generates calcium transients that determine neuronal polarity, neuronal migration and synapse assembly in the developing vertebrate brain. Here, we demonstrate a requirement for Fz2/Ca²⁺ signaling in determining the final differentiated state of a set of central brain dopaminergic neurons in Drosophila, referred to as the PAM cluster. Knockdown or inhibition of Fz2/Ca²⁺ signaling during maturation of the flight circuit in pupae reduces Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) expression in the PAM neurons and affects maintenance of flight. Thus we demonstrate that Fz2/Ca²⁺ transients during development serve as a pre-requisite for normal adult behavior. Our results support a neural mechanism where PAM neuron send projections to the α' and β' lobes of a higher brain centre, the mushroom body, and function in dopaminergic re-inforcement of flight.

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Tarjani Agrawal

National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Gaiti Hasan

National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India

For correspondence
gaiti@ncbs.res.in

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

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