Division of Molecular Neurobiology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, NW7 1AA London, United Kingdom.
Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2011 Feb;21(1):76-84. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2010.07.012. Epub 2010 Aug 25.
The ability of vertebrates and insects to perceive and process information about the visual world is mediated by neural circuits, which share a strikingly conserved architecture of reiterated columnar and layered synaptic units. Recent genetic approaches conferring single-cell resolution have enabled major advances in our understanding of the cellular and molecular strategies that orchestrate visual circuit assembly in Drosophila. Photoreceptor axon targeting relies on a sequence of interdependent developmental steps to achieve temporal coordination with the formation and maturation of partner neurons. Distinct targeting events depend on anterograde and autocrine signaling, neuron-glia interactions, axon tiling and the timely expression of homophilic cell surface molecules. These mediate local adhesive or repulsive interactions of photoreceptor axons with each other and with target neurons.
脊椎动物和昆虫感知和处理视觉世界信息的能力是由神经回路介导的，这些神经回路具有惊人的保守结构，由重复的柱状和分层的突触单元组成。最近的遗传方法赋予了单细胞分辨率，使我们对协调果蝇视觉回路组装的细胞和分子策略有了重大的理解进展。光感受器轴突的靶向依赖于一系列相互依赖的发育步骤，以实现与靶神经元形成和成熟的时间协调。不同的靶向事件取决于顺行和自分泌信号、神经元-胶质相互作用、轴突平铺和同源细胞表面分子的适时表达。这些介导光感受器轴突之间以及与靶神经元之间的局部粘着或排斥相互作用。
