Paralytic, the Drosophila voltage-gated sodium channel, regulates proliferation of neural progenitors.

ABSTRACT: Proliferating cells, typically considered "nonexcitable," nevertheless, exhibit regulation by bioelectric signals. Notably, voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSC) that are crucial for neuronal excitability are also found in progenitors and up-regulated in cancer. Here, we identify a role for VGSC in proliferation of Drosophila neuroblast (NB) lineages within the central nervous system. Loss of paralytic (para), the sole gene that encodes Drosophila VGSC, reduces neuroblast progeny cell number. The type II neuroblast lineages, featuring a population of transit-amplifying intermediate neural progenitors (INP) similar to that found in the developing human cortex, are particularly sensitive to para manipulation. Following a series of asymmetric divisions, INPs

SUBMITTER: Piggott BJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6942049 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature