Drosophila HB9 Is Expressed in a Subset of Motoneurons and Interneurons, Where It Regulates Gene Expression and Axon Pathfinding

Abstract

Motoneurons are an essential component of all metazoan nervous systems, but it is unknown whether there is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for generating motoneurons during neurogenesis. In the vertebrate CNS, HB9/MNR2 transcription factors are specifically expressed in all somatic motoneurons and are necessary to distinguish motoneurons from interneurons, in part by repressing interneuron-specific gene expression. Here, we identify and characterize the single Drosophila ortholog of the HB9/MNR2 gene family. Drosophila HB9 is detected in a subset of motoneurons with ventral muscle targets and in a small group of interneurons, including the well characterized serotonergic interneurons. RNA interference knockdown of HB9 levels leads to defects in motoneuron ventral muscle target recognition, ectopic expression of a marker for dorsally projecting motoneurons (Even-skipped), and defects in serotonergic interneuronal projections. Conversely, ectopic HB9 expression causes an expansion of ventral motoneuron projections and repression of Even-skipped. Thus, Drosophila HB9 is required in a subset of motoneurons and interneurons for establishing proper axon projections but does not have a general role in distinguishing motoneuron and interneuron cell types.