Drospondin, a glial glycoprotein with similarities to human Reelin/F-spondin, contributes to <i>Drosophila</i> brain development and function
Abstract
Reelin is a secreted glycoprotein with roles in the development of the mammalian neocortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum. This vertebrate signaling molecule also contributes to adult brain function. Mammalian Reelin increases the complexity of Drosophila Mushroom Body (MB) neurites, an effect mediated by LpR1 and LpR2, the orthologs of mammalian Reelin receptors. Paradoxically, to date, no Reelin ortholog has been described in Drosophila . Here, we report that the protein product of the uncharacterized Drosophila CG17739 gene, which we named Drospondin, shares sequence homology with vertebrate F-spondin and Reelin. We show that Drospondin is expressed in glial cells and is crucial for MB development. Our results also show that Drospondin genetically interacts with LpRs and that human Reelin rescues neuronal and brain structural defects in Drospondin-deficient flies. Furthermore, Drospondin-deficient flies exhibit altered sleep, locomotion, and social behaviors. Our results reveal that Drospondin is a Drosophila protein with similar functions to mammalian Reelin/F-spondin, that has an essential role in brain development and function, the impairment of which has profound functional consequences for the animal.
Article Details
Journal Info
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
Authors (13)
Francisca Rojo-Cortés
Laboratorio de Neurogenética de la Conducta, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Candy Roa-Siegfried
Laboratorio de Neurogenética de la Conducta, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Paula Amado-Hinojosa
Laboratorio de Neurogenética de la Conducta, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Nicolás Fuenzalida-Uribe
Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico
María-Constanza González-Ramírez
Laboratorio de Neurodesarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Raúl Chacón-Álvarez
Laboratorio de Neurodesarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Isidora Almonacid-Torres
Laboratorio de Neurogenética de la Conducta, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Serge Birman
Genes Circuits Rhythms and Neuropathology, Brain Plasticity Unit, Unité Mixte de Recherche 8249, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la Ville de Paris, Paris Sciences et Lettres University
Lindsey D. Goodman
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine
Oguz Kanca
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine
Carlos Oliva
Laboratorio de Neurodesarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
María Paz Marzolo
Laboratorio de Tráfico Intracelular y Señalización, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Jorge M. Campusano
Laboratorio de Neurogenética de la Conducta, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile