The Drosophila receptor guanylyl cyclase Gyc76C is required for semaphorin-1a-plexin A-mediated axonal repulsion

Joseph C. Ayoob, Hung Hsiang Yu, Jonathan R. Terman, Alex L. Kolodkin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cyclic nucleotide levels within extending growth cones influence how navigating axons respond to guidance cues. Pharmacological alteration of cAMP or cGMP signaling in vitro dramatically modulates how growth cones respond to attractants and repellents, although how these second messengers function in the context of guidance cue signaling cascades in vivo is poorly understood. We report here that the Drosophila receptor-type guanylyl cyclase Gyc76C is required for semaphorin-1a (Sema-1a)-plexin A repulsive axon guidance of motor axons in vivo. Our genetic analyses define a neuronal requirement for Gyc76C in axonal repulsion. Additionally, we find that the integrity of the Gyc76C catalytic cyclase domain is critical for Gyc76C function in Sema-1a axon repulsion. Our results support a model in which cGMP production by Gyc76C facilitates Sema-1a-plexin A-mediated defasciculation of motor axons, allowing for the generation of neuromuscular connectivity in the developing Drosophila embryo.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6639-6649
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume24
Issue number30
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 28 2004

Keywords

  • Axon guidance
  • CGMP
  • Gyc76C
  • Plexin A
  • Receptor guanylyl cyclase
  • Semaphorin-1a

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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