ADULT EXPRESSION OF SEMAPHORINS AND PLEXINS IS ESSENTIAL FOR MOTONEURON SURVIVAL

A role for axon guidance genes in the adult nervous system has not been fully elucidated. We performed an RNAi screen against guidance genes in the adult Drosophila melanogaster nervous system and identified fourteen genes required for adult survival and normal motility. Additionally, we show that adult expression of Semaphorins and Plexins in motoneurons is necessary for neuronal survival, indicating that guidance genes have critical functions in the mature nervous system.