The behavioral sophistication and plasticity of animals has been facilitated by evolutionary trends favoring increased central nervous system nervous system complexity and requires precise developmental control of axon and dendrite position within the CMS. The Roundabout (Robo) family of axon guidance receptors performs an ancient role in regulating midline crossing in response to the secreted repellant Slit. In Drosophila, Robo2 and RoboS specify mediolateral position of axons in the CNS, a novel function not shared by Robo. This proposal seeks to understand the molecular and functional bases and evolutionary origins of Robo receptor control of lateral position in the Drosophila CNS.
The specific aims are to: 1. Identify the molecular basis for differential activity of Robo and Robo2 in lateral positioning. The Robo2 axon guidance receptor is able to dictate mediolateral position of axons within the Drosophila CNS, while the closely related Robo receptor cannot. To define the minimal sequence elements distinguishing Robo and Robo2 activity in lateral positioning, I will assay a comprehensive series of chimeric Robo receptors for their ability to dictate lateral position in vivo. 2. Determine the biological basis for Robo receptor control of lateral position. To test the hypothesis that differential Slit affinity is responsible for the distinct activities of Robo and Robo2 in lateral positioning, I will (1) test the assumption that a graded distribution of Slit is required for Robo receptor control of lateral position by examining the effects of a membrane-tethered form of Slit on lateral position;(2) use sitedirected mutations to test the effects of disrupted Slit binding on lateral shifting activity of Robo2 and Robo3;and (3) assess whether Robo receptor lateral positioning activity correlates with Slit affinity by comparing the Slit affinities of wild type and chimeric Robo receptors using surface plasmon resonance. 3. Examine the evolutionary origins of Robo receptor control of lateral position.
The third aim will test the hypothesis that control of lateral position is a novel function acquired by Robo receptors during the evolution of insects. Robo2 and Robo3 regulate lateral position of CNS axons in Drosophila. Notably, Robo2 and Robo3 orthologs appear restricted to insects, raising the possibility that control of lateral position is a novel activity that first appeared during insect evolution. To gain insight into the evolutionary origins of Robo receptor control of lateral position, I will: (1) assay arthropod and nematode Robo receptors for conserved lateral positioning activity in Drosophila, and (2) investigate the function of Robo orthologs in the flour beetle Tribolium, an insect that retains a primitive set of Robo receptors.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32NS060357-02
Application #
7760962
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F03A-F (20))
Program Officer
Riddle, Robert D
Project Start
2009-01-01
Project End
2011-12-31
Budget Start
2010-01-01
Budget End
2010-12-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$52,154
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Evans, Timothy A; Santiago, Celine; Arbeille, Elise et al. (2015) Robo2 acts in trans to inhibit Slit-Robo1 repulsion in pre-crossing commissural axons. Elife 4:e08407
Evans, Timothy A; Bashaw, Greg J (2012) Slit/Robo-mediated axon guidance in Tribolium and Drosophila: divergent genetic programs build insect nervous systems. Dev Biol 363:266-78
Evans, Timothy A; Bashaw, Greg J (2010) Functional diversity of Robo receptor immunoglobulin domains promotes distinct axon guidance decisions. Curr Biol 20:567-72
Evans, Timothy A; Bashaw, Greg J (2010) Axon guidance at the midline: of mice and flies. Curr Opin Neurobiol 20:79-85