A model of toxic neuropathy in Drosophila reveals a role for MORN4 in promoting axonal degeneration

Martha R.C. Bhattacharya, Josiah Gerdts, Sarah A. Naylor, Emily X. Royse, Sarah Y. Ebstein, Yo Sasaki, Jeffrey Milbrandt, Aaron Diantonio

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

59 Scopus citations

Abstract

Axonal degeneration is a molecular self-destruction cascade initiated following traumatic, toxic, and metabolic insults. Its mechanism underlies a number of disorders including hereditary and diabetic neuropathies and the neurotoxic side effects of chemotherapy drugs. Molecules that promote axonal degeneration could represent potential targets for therapy. To identify such molecules, we designed a screening platform based on intoxication of Drosophila larvae with paclitaxel (taxol), a chemotherapeutic agent that causes neuropathy in cancer patients. In Drosophila, taxol treatment causes swelling, fragmentation, and loss of axons in larval peripheral nerves. This axonal loss is not due to apoptosis of neurons. Taxol-induced axonal degeneration in Drosophila shares molecular execution mechanisms with vertebrates, including inhibition by both NMNAT (nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase) expression and loss of wallenda/DLK (dual leucine zipper kinase). In a pilot RNAi-based screen we found that knockdown of retinophilin (rtp), which encodes a MORN (membrane occupation and recognition nexus) repeat-containing protein, protects axons from degeneration in the presence of taxol. Loss-of-function mutants of rtp replicate this axonal protection. Knockdown of rtp also delays axonal degeneration in severed olfactory axons. We demonstrate that the mouse ortholog of rtp, MORN4, promotes axonal degeneration in mouse sensory axons following axotomy, illustrating conservation of function. Hence, thisnewmodel can identify evolutionarily conserved genes that promote axonal degeneration, and so could identify candidate therapeutic targets for a wide-range of axonopathies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5054-5061
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume32
Issue number15
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 11 2012
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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