A novel post-developmental role of the Hox genes underlies normal adult behavior.pdf (8.3 MB)
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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-10, 06:31 authored by A Raouf Issa, Jonathan MenziesJonathan Menzies, Aishwarya Padmanabhan, Claudio AlonsoClaudio AlonsoThe molecular mechanisms underlying the stability of mature neurons and neural circuits are poorly understood. Here we explore this problem and discover that the Hox genes are a component of the genetic program that maintains normal neural function in adult Drosophila. We show that post-developmental downregulation of the Hox gene Ultrabithorax (Ubx) in adult neurons leads to substantial anomalies in flight. Mapping the cellular basis of these effects reveals that Ubx is required within a subset of dopaminergic neurons, and cell circuitry analyses in combination with optogenetics allow us to link these dopaminergic neurons to flight control. Functional imaging experiments show that Ubx is necessary for normal dopaminergic activity, and neuron-specific RNA-sequencing defines two previously uncharacterized ion channel-encoding genes as potential mediators of Ubx behavioral roles. Our study thus reveals a novel role of the Hox system in controlling adult behavior and neural function. Based on the broad evolutionary conservation of the Hox system across distantly related animal phyla, we predict that the Hox genes might play neurophysiological roles in adult forms of other species, including humans.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of AmericaISSN
0027-8424Publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesExternal DOI
Issue
49Volume
119Page range
e2209531119 1-11Event location
United StatesDepartment affiliated with
- Neuroscience Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes