Golden goal controls dendrite elongation and branching of multidendritic arborization neurons in D rosophila

Precise refinement of axonal and dendritic patterns is essential for the maturation of functional neuronal circuits. Although several transmembrane molecules have been shown to control the development of both axons and dendrites, the molecular mechanisms that regulate these different processes are poorly understood. Golden Goal ( G ogo) is one of the molecules that are known to control the development of axons in the D rosophila visual system. In this study, we analyzed G ogo function in dendritic field formation of dorsal multidendritic arborization (md‐da) neurons of the D rosophila Peripheral Nervous System. We showed that G ogo is required to restrain the growth of dda C dendrites toward the midline in the embryo. During larval stages, G ogo promotes dendritic branching of the complex class IV dda C neurons. However, over‐expression of G ogo restrained dendritic branch formation in dda C neurons, and this phenotype was enhanced by co‐over‐expression with F lamingo ( F mi), a partner of G ogo in axon guidance. These results suggest G ogo plays important roles in maintaining homeostasis of dendritic branching. Like axons, the cytoplasmic part of G ogo is required for its function in dendritic tree formation, suggesting that G ogo conveys information from extracellular cues to intracellular molecules that control dendrite development.