Molecular mechanism of central nervous system repair by the Drosophila NG2 homologue kon-tiki

• Published in: The Journal of cell biology Vol. 214; no. 5; pp. 587 - 601
• Main Authors: Losada-Perez, Maria, Harrison, Neale, Hidalgo, Alicia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Rockefeller University Press 29.08.2016; The Rockefeller University Press
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens; Antigens - chemistry; Antigens - metabolism; Biomarkers - metabolism; Cell Proliferation; Cell Shape; Cells; Central Nervous System - metabolism; Central Nervous System - pathology; Drosophila; Drosophila melanogaster - cytology; Drosophila melanogaster - metabolism; Drosophila Proteins - metabolism; Genes; Insects; Larva - cytology; Larva - metabolism; Models, Biological; Nerve Crush; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Nervous system; Neuroglia - cytology; Neuroglia - metabolism; Proteoglycans - chemistry; Proteoglycans - metabolism; Regeneration; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Wound Healing
• ISSN: 0021-9525; 1540-8140
• DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201603054

Neuron glia antigen 2 (NG2)-positive glia are repair cells that proliferate upon central nervous system (CNS) damage, promoting functional recovery. However, repair is limited because of the failure of the newly produced glial cells to differentiate. It is a key goal to discover how to regulate NG2 to enable glial proliferation and differentiation conducive to repair. Drosophila has an NG2 homologue called kon-tiki (kon), of unknown CNS function. We show that kon promotes repair and identify the underlying mechanism. Crush injury up-regulates kon expression downstream of Notch. Kon in turn induces glial proliferation and initiates glial differentiation by activating glial genes and prospero (pros). Two negative feedback loops with Notch and Pros allow Kon to drive the homeostatic regulation required for repair. By modulating Kon levels in glia, we could prevent or promote CNS repair. Thus, the functional links between Kon, Notch, and Pros are essential for, and can drive, repair. Analogous mechanisms could promote CNS repair in mammals.