Mechanisms underlying axon sorting in neural layer formation

尽管已知n -钙粘蛋白在神经回路形成中发挥多种作用，但在给定神经元细胞分化过程中如何实现这些功能仍不清楚。在这里，我们证明了在蘑菇体和运动神经元的轴突引导和突触生长等不同的过程中确实需要果蝇n -钙粘蛋白。我们还表明，这些功能是通过神经元分化过程中N-cad表达的时空调节来实现的。有趣的是，这种N-cad表达的变化是由细胞自主控制和阳离子内流介导的。

Although N-cadherin has been known to exert multiple roles in neural circuit formation, it remains unclear how such functions are achieved during differentiation of a given neuronal cell. Here we demonstrate that Drosophila N-cadherin is indeed required for the different processes such as axon guidance and synaptic growth in both mushroom body and motoneurons. We also show that these functions are executed by spatiotemporal regulation of N-cad expression during neuronal differentiation. Interestingly, this change in the expression of N-cad is cell-autonomously controlled and mediated by cation influx.