Hogan, J., Walker, K., Newquist, G., Bousum, A., Kidd, T. (2013). A novel mechanism underlying axon guidance phenotypes: Indirect disruption of embryonic axon guidance by unspecified cells.  D. I. S. 96(): 191--195.

FBrf0231476

Research paper

During characterization of the Netrin locus, we uncovered a background maternal effect mutation in which a small number of presumptive mesoderm cells fail to express the mesoderm determinant twist (twi). In contrast to twi mutants in which the mesoderm cells adopt alternative cell fates, the affected cells did not appear to differentiate. The cells failed to invaginate with other mesodermal cells and remained at the central nervous system (CNS) midline physically blocking cell migration and axon outgrowth. Due to low penetrance we were unable to map the mutation, but propose that the gene is required for coordination of gene expression throughout the cells of a tissue. We believe that the phenotype represents a novel way for cell fate alterations to disrupt axon guidance, distinct from alterations in neuronal or target cell identity.