During nervous system development, combinatorial codes of transcription factors specify different neuronal subclasses. But how is each neuron's identity within a subclass specified? Garces and Thor provide new insights into this question by reporting that a unique genetic cascade specifies the fate of the aCC motoneuron in Drosophila, one of seven unique motoneurons in the intersegmental motor nerve (ISN; see p. 1445). Neurons of the ISN neuronal subclass express the regulatory factors even-skipped and zfh1 (which specify this subclass), and grain, a GATA transcription factor. Although these regulators are expressed by all seven ISN motoneurons, the researchers show that they only act together in a genetic cascade (in which even-skipped regulates grain, which regulates zfh1) to specify the aCC motoneuron – the first,pioneer, neuron to innervate this nerve's target muscle. Why this cascade is only active in the aCC motoneuron is unclear but might depend on the history of each ISN motoneuron.
Pioneering work on cracking neuron codes
Pioneering work on cracking neuron codes. Development 15 April 2006; 133 (8): e801. doi:
Download citation file:
Advertisement
Cited by
Pathway to Independence programme

We’re excited to announce our new Pathway to Independence programme, aimed at supporting postdocs as they go on the job market. Find out more about the scheme in our Editorial.
Call for papers: Metabolic and Nutritional Control of Development and Regeneration

We are welcoming submissions for our next special issue, which will focus on metabolic and nutritional control of development and regeneration. Submission deadline: 15 May 2023.
Webinar: Increasing the visibility and impact of your research
-HUBSwebinar.jpg?versionId=4486)
Would you like to increase the visibility and impact of your research and raise your profile internationally? If so, register for the very practical webinar we are running in association with HUBS on 23 February 2023.
Transitions in development: Daniel Grimes

Daniel Grimes’s lab studies the consequences of ciliary mutations, including left-right patterning defects and scoliosis. We interviewed Daniel to find out more about his career path, his experience of becoming a group leader and the influence of Jurassic Park.
Preprints in Development
(update)-InPreprints.png?versionId=4486)
As part of our efforts to support the use of preprints and help curate the preprint literature, we are delighted to launch a new article type: ‘In preprints’. These pieces will discuss one or more recent preprints and place them in a broader context.