Reference Report

Reference
Citation	Garbe, D.S., Das, A., Dubreuil, R.R., Bashaw, G.J. (2007). β-Spectrin functions independently of Ankyrin to regulate the establishment and maintenance of axon connections in the Drosophila embryonic CNS. Development 134(2): 273--284. (Export to RIS)
FlyBase ID	FBrf0191925
Publication Type	Research paper
PubMed ID	17121810
PubMed Abstract	alpha- and beta-Spectrin are major components of a submembrane cytoskeletal network connecting actin filaments to integral plasma membrane proteins. Besides its structural role in red blood cells, the Spectrin network is thought to function in non-erythroid cells during protein targeting and membrane domain formation. Here, we demonstrate that beta-Spectrin is required in neurons for proper midline axon guidance in the Drosophila embryonic CNS. In beta-spectrin mutants many axons inappropriately cross the CNS midline, suggesting a role for beta-Spectrin in midline repulsion. Surprisingly, neither the Ankyrin-binding nor the pleckstrin homology (PH) domains of beta-Spectrin are required for accurate guidance decisions. alpha-Spectrin is dependent upon beta-Spectrin for its normal subcellular localization and/or maintenance, whereas alpha-spectrin mutants exhibit a redistribution of beta-Spectrin to the axon scaffold. beta-spectrin mutants show specific dose-dependent genetic interactions with the midline repellent slit and its neuronal receptor roundabout (robo), but not with other guidance molecules. The results suggest that beta-Spectrin contributes to midline repulsion through the regulation of Slit-Robo pathway components. We propose that the Spectrin network is playing a role independently of Ankyrin in the establishment and/or maintenance of specialized membrane domains containing guidance molecules that ensure the fidelity of axon repulsion at the midline.
DOI	10.1242/dev.02653
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Language of Publication	English
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Publication Type	Journal
Abbreviation	Development
Title	Development
Publication Year	1987-
ISBN/ISSN	0950-1991
Data from Reference
Alleles (19)
	Avic\GFP^{Scer\UAS.T:Btau\MAPT,T:Hsap\MYC} robo¹ robo^{Scer\UAS.T:Hsap\MYC} Scer\GAL4^ap-md544 Scer\GAL4^eg-Mz360 Scer\GAL4^elav.PLu Scer\GAL4^sim.P3.7 sli² α-Spec::β-Spec^{α13.Ubi-p63E.T:Hsap\MYC} α-Spec^lm88 α-Spec^rg41 β-Spec^em6 β-Spec^em21 β-Spec^G0074 β-Spec^G0108 β-Spec^G0198 β-Spec^{Scer\UAS.T:Hsap\MYC} β-Spec^{Ubi-p63E.T:Hsap\MYC} β-Spec^{ΔPH.Ubi-p63E.T:Hsap\MYC}
Constructs (7)
	P{GAL4-sim.3.7} P{UAS-btau::GFP.T:Myc} P{UAS-robo.Myc} P{UAS-β-Spec.Myc} P{Ubi-p63E-α-Spec::β-Spec.α13} P{Ubi-p63E-β-Spec.myc} P{Ubi-p63E-β-Spec.ΔPH}
Genes (10)
	Ank Avic\GFP Fas2 robo Scer\GAL4 sli T:Hsap\MYC α-Spec α-Spec::β-Spec β-Spec
Insertions (2)
	P{GawB}ap^md544 P{GawB}eg^Mz360
Natural transposons (1)
	P-element