# Development and function of an adult locomotion circuit in Drosophila

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $461,524

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The morphological diversity among neurons is enormous and critical to their function, yet many gaps in our
knowledge remain concerning how this diversity is genetically encoded. As with vertebrate motor neurons, the
motor neurons of Drosophila melanogaster establish highly specific synapses on the correct muscle fibers in
the appendages and also elaborate highly stereotyped dendritic arbors in the central nervous system (CNS). In
the previous funding period, we characterized the individual progeny and transcription factor codes that govern
neuronal identities for one of the largest neuroblast lineages that give rise to motor neurons and neuropil glia.
We further described the role of Ig domain family members in establishing certain aspects of motor neuron
identities. Live imaging provided unprecedented access to the relevant stages of motor neuron maturation
during pupal stages.
In the coming funding period we will extend these findings to understand how transcription factors in post-
mitotic neurons regulate their target genes. We will carry out a series of whole genome and single cell studies
to obtain this information on a genome-wide scale. Finally, we will analyze additional members of the Ig
domain superfamily to assess what other roles, besides axon targeting, they play in motor neuron morphology
during development.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9971790
- **Project number:** 2R01NS070644-11
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** RICHARD S MANN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $461,524
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2010-04-01 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9971790

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9971790, Development and function of an adult locomotion circuit in Drosophila (2R01NS070644-11). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9971790. Licensed CC0.

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