Expression of a Fragment of Ankyrin 2 Disrupts the Structure of the Axon Initial Segment and Causes Axonal Degeneration in Drosophila.

ABSTRACT: Neurodegenerative stimuli are often associated with perturbation of the axon initial segment (AIS), but it remains unclear whether AIS disruption is causative for neurodegeneration or is a downstream step in disease progression. Here, we demonstrate that either of two separate, genetically parallel pathways that disrupt the AIS induce axonal degeneration and loss of neurons in the central brain of Drosophila. Expression of a portion of the C-terminal tail of the Ank2-L isoform of Ankyrin severely shortens the AIS in Drosophila mushroom body (MB) neurons, and this shortening occurs through a mechanism that is genetically separate from the previously described Cdk5α-dependent pathway of AIS regulation. Further, either manipulation triggers morphological degeneration of MB axons and is accomp

SUBMITTER: Spurrier J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6616013 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature