Signal Control

The wiring and firing in the fruit fly’s brain is remarkably similar to ours. Signals sent and received along nerve cells control the vast number of processes that make up a fully functioning body, be it human or insect. Signalling cells work by exchanging electrochemical messages, which are mopped up by guidance-receptors. These are crucial for transmitting the nerve messages, but an excess of guidance receptors can lead to developmental defects in the flies. Scientists exploring other proteins that could be playing a supporting role in this process looked at light-detecting nerve cells (pictured) in fly brain. They found that one single mutated protein (coloured blue) makes the whole process go awry. To explain why mutations in this protein cause the receptors to build-up, researchers think that it must normally play a role in destroying the receptors once they’ve done their job.

Written by Rebecca Hill

Rebecca Hill

Writer

Genetics editor of newsletter BioNews and freelance journalist, Beki has written for The Guardian and The Times. She studied biological sciences, obtaining a BSc and PhD from the University of Sheffield.

• Peter Robin Hiesinger
• UT Southwestern Medical Center
• Originally published under Creative Commons (CC-BY 2.0)
• Published in PLos Biology