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First published online February 9, 2006

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Single-minded connections

Topographic maps - arrangements of synaptic connections that mirror the relationships between neighbouring neurons - ensure the spatially ordered flow of information through the nervous system. Many insights into how these maps are established have come from studying developing visual systems. Now, on p. 791, Umetsu and colleagues report that Hedgehog (Hh) and the transcription factor Single-minded (Sim) regulate the ordered connection of retinal axons with their synaptic partners in the optic lamina of the Drosophila visual system. As this system develops, retinal axons extend from the eye into the lamina ganglion layer, where they stimulate proliferation and differentiation of the lamina neurons by secreting Hh. The researchers show that Sim is induced by Hh in the lamina neurons and that this expression is required for the association of retinal axons with lamina neurons - the first step in forming a topographic map. Thus, postsynaptic cells may interact dynamically with presynaptic cells to establish topographic maps rather than waiting passively for axons to arrive, as previously thought.

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The highly ordered assembly of retinal axons and their synaptic partners is regulated by Hedgehog/Single-minded in the Drosophila visual system

Daiki Umetsu, Satoshi Murakami, Makoto Sato, and Tetsuya Tabata
Development 2006 133: 791-800. [Abstract] [Full Text]  

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in Development Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?