Disease relevance of beat-Ia

• Our data suggest a model whereby Beat Ic (and perhaps other membrane-bound family members) functions in a pro-adhesive fashion to regulate fasciculation, while Beat Ia (the original secreted Beat) functions in an anti-adhesive fashion to regulate defasciculation [1].

High impact information on beat-Ia

• To begin to elucidate molecules downstream of the LIM-HD code, we examined the involvement of the Beaten path (Beat) family of immunoglobulin-containing cell-adhesion molecules [2].
• Genetic interactions between beat Ic and beat Ia reveal complementary functions [1].
• Moreover, mutations in each gene lead to much more subtle guidance phenotypes than observed in beat Ia [1].
• Beat Ia contains two immunoglobulin (Ig) domains and appears to function as an anti-adhesive factor secreted by specific growth cones to promote axon defasciculation [1].
• We observe that the cell adhesion molecule Fasciclin II and the secreted anti-adhesion molecule Beaten path have additional critical roles in the development of at least one set of sensory organs, the larval visual organs [3].

Biological context of beat-Ia

• Previous studies demonstrated that Fasciclin II and Beaten path are necessary for regulating cell adhesion events that are important for motoneuron development in Drosophila [3].

Anatomical context of beat-Ia

• Taken together, phenotypic analysis, genetic interactions, expression studies and rescue experiments suggest that, in normal development, secretion of Beaten path by cells of the optic lobes allows the Fasciclin II-expressing larval visual organ cells to detach from the optic lobes as a cohesive cell cluster [3].

References