Drosophila photoreceptor tethering by a laminin-Eys scaffold
Summary: Visual acuity in Drosophila requires precise photoreceptor alignment along the optical axis, maintained by longitudinal tension between a rigid cornea and a contractile retinal base. Here, we identify the rhabdomere caps—an extracellular matrix (ECM) structure that links rhabdomere tips to...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | iScience |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225009939 |
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| author | Donald F. Ready Henry C. Chang |
| author_facet | Donald F. Ready Henry C. Chang |
| author_sort | Donald F. Ready |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: Visual acuity in Drosophila requires precise photoreceptor alignment along the optical axis, maintained by longitudinal tension between a rigid cornea and a contractile retinal base. Here, we identify the rhabdomere caps—an extracellular matrix (ECM) structure that links rhabdomere tips to the integrin-decorated basal surfaces of overlying, lens-forming cone cells. Rhabdomere caps form perlecan-filled peaks shaped by a trapezoidal LanB1 (laminin) grid, which mirrors the inter-rhabdomeral space (IRS) contour. Our study revealed that Eys (eyes shut), a photoreceptor-secreted proteoglycan essential for IRS formation, guides LanB1 and perlecan deposition by cone cells during pupal development. Disruption of LanB1 results in rhabdomere tip detachment, IRS collapse, and impaired tension transmission. These findings reveal that cone cells and photoreceptors collaboratively sculpt a rigid LanB1 grid that caps and reinforces the distal IRS lumen. This composite ECM structure preserves rhabdomere organization and evenly distributes mechanical forces, ensuring photoreceptor alignment and optical fidelity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5890a6df2bf94f2f9e81684dace42d70 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2589-0042 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | iScience |
| spelling | doaj-art-5890a6df2bf94f2f9e81684dace42d702025-08-20T03:24:52ZengElsevieriScience2589-00422025-06-0128611273210.1016/j.isci.2025.112732Drosophila photoreceptor tethering by a laminin-Eys scaffoldDonald F. Ready0Henry C. Chang1Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 Mitch Daniels Boulevard, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054, USA; Corresponding authorDepartment of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 Mitch Daniels Boulevard, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054, USA; Corresponding authorSummary: Visual acuity in Drosophila requires precise photoreceptor alignment along the optical axis, maintained by longitudinal tension between a rigid cornea and a contractile retinal base. Here, we identify the rhabdomere caps—an extracellular matrix (ECM) structure that links rhabdomere tips to the integrin-decorated basal surfaces of overlying, lens-forming cone cells. Rhabdomere caps form perlecan-filled peaks shaped by a trapezoidal LanB1 (laminin) grid, which mirrors the inter-rhabdomeral space (IRS) contour. Our study revealed that Eys (eyes shut), a photoreceptor-secreted proteoglycan essential for IRS formation, guides LanB1 and perlecan deposition by cone cells during pupal development. Disruption of LanB1 results in rhabdomere tip detachment, IRS collapse, and impaired tension transmission. These findings reveal that cone cells and photoreceptors collaboratively sculpt a rigid LanB1 grid that caps and reinforces the distal IRS lumen. This composite ECM structure preserves rhabdomere organization and evenly distributes mechanical forces, ensuring photoreceptor alignment and optical fidelity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225009939MechanobiologyCell biologyBiophysics |
| spellingShingle | Donald F. Ready Henry C. Chang Drosophila photoreceptor tethering by a laminin-Eys scaffold iScience Mechanobiology Cell biology Biophysics |
| title | Drosophila photoreceptor tethering by a laminin-Eys scaffold |
| title_full | Drosophila photoreceptor tethering by a laminin-Eys scaffold |
| title_fullStr | Drosophila photoreceptor tethering by a laminin-Eys scaffold |
| title_full_unstemmed | Drosophila photoreceptor tethering by a laminin-Eys scaffold |
| title_short | Drosophila photoreceptor tethering by a laminin-Eys scaffold |
| title_sort | drosophila photoreceptor tethering by a laminin eys scaffold |
| topic | Mechanobiology Cell biology Biophysics |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225009939 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT donaldfready drosophilaphotoreceptortetheringbyalaminineysscaffold AT henrycchang drosophilaphotoreceptortetheringbyalaminineysscaffold |