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PAR ‐1 promotes microtubule breakdown during dendrite pruning in Drosophila
Author(s) -
Herzmann Svende,
Krumkamp Rafael,
Rode Sandra,
Kintrup Carina,
Rumpf Sebastian
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.15252/embj.201695890
Subject(s) - biology , microtubule , neurite , microbiology and biotechnology , dendrite (mathematics) , microtubule polymerization , endocytosis , neuroscience , tubulin , cell , biochemistry , geometry , mathematics , in vitro
Pruning of unspecific neurites is an important mechanism during neuronal morphogenesis. Drosophila sensory neurons prune their dendrites during metamorphosis. Pruning dendrites are severed in their proximal regions. Prior to severing, dendritic microtubules undergo local disassembly, and dendrites thin extensively through local endocytosis. Microtubule disassembly requires a katanin homologue, but the signals initiating microtubule breakdown are not known. Here, we show that the kinase PAR ‐1 is required for pruning and dendritic microtubule breakdown. Our data show that neurons lacking PAR ‐1 fail to break down dendritic microtubules, and PAR ‐1 is required for an increase in neuronal microtubule dynamics at the onset of metamorphosis. Mammalian PAR ‐1 is a known Tau kinase, and genetic interactions suggest that PAR ‐1 promotes microtubule breakdown largely via inhibition of Tau also in Drosophila . Finally, PAR ‐1 is also required for dendritic thinning, suggesting that microtubule breakdown might precede ensuing plasma membrane alterations. Our results shed light on the signaling cascades and epistatic relationships involved in neurite destabilization during dendrite pruning.