Segment-specific axon guidance by Wnt/Fz signaling diversifies motor commands in <i>Drosophila</i> larvae.

ABSTRACT: Functional diversification of homologous neuronal microcircuits is a widespread feature observed across brain regions, as well as across species, while its molecular and developmental mechanisms remain largely unknown. We address this question in Drosophila larvae by focusing on segmentally homologous Wave command-like neurons, which diversify their wiring and function in a segment-specific manner. Anterior Wave (a-Wave) neurons extend axons anteriorly and connect to circuits inducing backward locomotion, whereas posterior Wave (p-Wave) neurons extend axons posteriorly and trigger forward locomotion. Here, we show that Frizzled receptors DFz2 and DFz4, together with the DWnt4 ligand, regulate the segment-specific Wave axon projection. DFz2 knockdown (KD) not only reroutes Wav

SUBMITTER: Takagi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12463391 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature