NimA promotes cell adhesion at the blood brain barrier of the Drosophila nervous system

ABSTRACT: Glia are crucial for nervous system development and function by clearing debris, protecting neurons and ensuring neuronal survival. In Drosophila, glia form the blood-brain barrier, which regulates neural stem cell proliferation and shields the nervous system while maintaining communication with the rest of the organism. To uncover glial-specific roles, we here compare their transcriptome with that of neurons and macrophages. Our study identifies NimA, an uncharacterized member of the Nimrod family, as a glial-specific protein expressed during development. Unlike other family members (i.e. NimC1, Draper and NimC4/Simu) NimA is not involved in phagocytosis. Instead, NimA regulates cell-cell adhesion, crucial for maintaining the tight septate junctions of the larval BBB. Loss of NimA in BBB-

SUBMITTER: Rosy Sakr 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-10_1038-S44319-026-00728-1 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other