Polycomb group genes are required for neuronal pruning in Drosophila.

Background: Pruning that selectively eliminates unnecessary or incorrect neurites is required for proper wiring of the mature nervous system. During Drosophila metamorphosis, dendritic arbourization sensory neurons (ddaCs) and mushroom body (MB) γ neurons can selectively prune their larval dendrites and/or axons in response to the steroid hormone ecdysone. An ecdysone-induced transcriptional cascade plays a key role in initiating neuronal pruning.

Drosophila GSK3β promotes microtubule disassembly and dendrite pruning in sensory neurons.

The evolutionarily conserved Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β (GSK3β), a negative regulator of microtubules, is crucial for neuronal polarization, growth and migration during animal development. However, it remains unknown whether GSK3β regulates neuronal pruning, which is a regressive process. Here, we report that the Drosophila GSK3β homologue Shaggy (Sgg) is cell-autonomously required for dendrite pruning of ddaC sensory neurons during metamorphosis.

Drosophila CLASP regulates microtubule orientation and dendrite pruning by suppressing Par-1 kinase.

The evolutionarily conserved CLASPs (cytoplasmic linker-associated proteins) are microtubule-associated proteins that inhibit microtubule catastrophe and promote rescue. CLASPs can regulate axonal elongation and dendrite branching in growing neurons. However, their roles in microtubule orientation and neurite pruning in remodeling neurons remain unknown.

A systematic analysis of microtubule-destabilizing factors during dendrite pruning in Drosophila.

It has long been thought that microtubule disassembly, one of the earliest cellular events, contributes to neuronal pruning and neurodegeneration in development and disease. However, how microtubule disassembly drives neuronal pruning remains poorly understood. Here, we conduct a systematic investigation of various microtubule-destabilizing factors and identify exchange factor for Arf6 (Efa6) and Stathmin (Stai) as new regulators of dendrite pruning in ddaC sensory neurons during Drosophila metamorphosis.

The membrane protein Raw regulates dendrite pruning via the secretory pathway.

Neuronal pruning is essential for proper wiring of the nervous systems in invertebrates and vertebrates. ddaC sensory neurons selectively prune their larval dendrites to sculpt the nervous system during early metamorphosis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ddaC dendrite pruning remain elusive.

A microtubule polymerase is required for microtubule orientation and dendrite pruning in Drosophila.

Drosophila class IV ddaC neurons selectively prune all larval dendrites to refine the nervous system during metamorphosis. During dendrite pruning, severing of proximal dendrites is preceded by local microtubule (MT) disassembly. Here, we identify an unexpected role of Mini spindles (Msps), a conserved MT polymerase, in governing dendrite pruning.

Protein phosphatase PP2A regulates microtubule orientation and dendrite pruning in Drosophila.

Pruning that selectively eliminates inappropriate projections is crucial for sculpting neural circuits during development. During Drosophila metamorphosis, ddaC sensory neurons undergo dendrite-specific pruning in response to the steroid hormone ecdysone. However, the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying dendrite pruning remains incomplete.

Patronin governs minus-end-out orientation of dendritic microtubules to promote dendrite pruning in .

Unlabelled: Class IV ddaC neurons specifically prune larval dendrites without affecting axons during metamorphosis. ddaCs distribute the minus ends of microtubules (MTs) to dendrites but the plus ends to axons. However, a requirement of MT minus-end-binding proteins in dendrite-specific pruning remains completely unknown.