The Drosophila homolog of APP promotes Dscam expression to drive axon terminal growth, revealing interaction between Down syndrome genes.

ABSTRACT: Down syndrome (DS) is caused by triplication of human chromosome 21 (HSA21). Although several HSA21 genes have been found to be responsible for aspects of DS, whether and how HSA21 genes interact with each other is poorly understood. DS patients and animal models present with a number of neurological changes, including aberrant connectivity and neuronal morphology. Previous studies have indicated that amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (DSCAM) regulate neuronal morphology and contribute to neuronal aberrations in DS. Here, we report the functional interaction between the Drosophila homologs of these two genes, Amyloid precursor protein-like (Appl) and Dscam (Dscam1). We show that Appl requires Dscam to promote axon terminal growth in sensory neurons. M

SUBMITTER: Pizzano S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10508694 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature