Temporal and Notch identity determine layer targeting and synapse location of medulla neurons.

ABSTRACT: How specification mechanisms that generate neural diversity translate into specific neuronal targeting, connectivity, and function in the adult brain is not understood. In the medulla region of the Drosophila optic lobe, neural progenitors generate different neurons in a fixed order by sequentially expressing a series of temporal transcription factors as they age. Then, Notch signaling in intermediate progenitors further diversifies neuronal progeny. By establishing the birth order of medulla neurons, we found that their temporal identity correlates with the depth of neuropil targeting in the adult brain, for both local interneurons and projection neurons. We show that this temporal identity-dependent targeting of projection neurons unfolds early in development and is genetically de

SUBMITTER: Holguera I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11741259 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature