Extensive and diverse patterns of cell death sculpt neural networks in insects

TY - JOUR

T1 - Extensive and diverse patterns of cell death sculpt neural networks in insects

AU - Pop, Sinziana

AU - Chen, Chin-Lin

AU - Sproston, Connor J

AU - Kondo, Shu

AU - Ramdya, Pavan

AU - Williams, Darren W

N1 - © 2020, Pop et al.

PY - 2020/9

Y1 - 2020/9

N2 - Changes to the structure and function of neural networks are thought to underlie the evolutionary adaptation of animal behaviours. Among the many developmental phenomena that generate change programmed cell death (PCD) appears to play a key role. We show that cell death occurs continuously throughout insect neurogenesis and happens soon after neurons are born. Mimicking an evolutionary role for increasing cell numbers, we artificially block in the medial neuroblast lineage in Drosophila melanogaster, which results in the production of ‘undead’ neurons with complex arborisations and distinct neurotransmitter identities. Activation of these ‘undead’ neurons and recordings of neural activity in behaving animals demonstrate that they are functional. Focusing on two dipterans, which have lost flight during evolution, we reveal that reductions in populations of flight interneurons are likely caused by increased cell death during development. Our findings suggest that the evolutionary modulation of death-based patterning could generate novel network configurations.

AB - Changes to the structure and function of neural networks are thought to underlie the evolutionary adaptation of animal behaviours. Among the many developmental phenomena that generate change programmed cell death (PCD) appears to play a key role. We show that cell death occurs continuously throughout insect neurogenesis and happens soon after neurons are born. Mimicking an evolutionary role for increasing cell numbers, we artificially block in the medial neuroblast lineage in Drosophila melanogaster, which results in the production of ‘undead’ neurons with complex arborisations and distinct neurotransmitter identities. Activation of these ‘undead’ neurons and recordings of neural activity in behaving animals demonstrate that they are functional. Focusing on two dipterans, which have lost flight during evolution, we reveal that reductions in populations of flight interneurons are likely caused by increased cell death during development. Our findings suggest that the evolutionary modulation of death-based patterning could generate novel network configurations.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85092018839&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.7554/eLife.59566

DO - 10.7554/eLife.59566

M3 - Article

C2 - 32894223

SN - 2050-084X

VL - 9

SP - 1

EP - 31

JO - eLife

JF - eLife

M1 - e59566

ER -