What is it about?
Our study explores how the gene sequoia (seq) helps build a correctly wired nervous system during development, using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. Neurons form connections by extending long projections called axons, which must navigate complex environments to reach their correct targets. We investigated how different mutant versions of the transcription factor Sequoia (Seq) affect this process in the developing central nervous system. When this gene is disrupted, axons frequently fail to grow properly, often stopping prematurely or taking incorrect paths. Many accumulate at the midline instead of crossing or extending along the body axis, and in more severe cases the overall organisation of the nervous system breaks down, with fewer neurons present. By comparing multiple alleles, we also found that different parts of the Seq protein contribute in distinct ways to neural development, with the C-terminal region playing a particularly important role in guiding axons. Together, these findings identify sequoia as a key regulator of how neurons extend and connect during development.
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Why is it important?
The formation of precise neural connections is essential for a functional nervous system, and even small errors in axon guidance can lead to miswired circuits. Our findings show that sequoia plays an important role in ensuring that axons navigate correctly, likely by helping regulate the balance of signals that guide their growth, direction, and ability to cross the midline. Although this work was carried out in fruit flies, many of the mechanisms that control nervous system development are conserved across species. This means that understanding how sequoia functions provides broader insight into how complex neural circuits are assembled and how genetic changes can disrupt this process. By linking a specific gene to distinct defects in neural wiring, our study helps bridge the gap between genes, cellular behaviour, and the formation of functional neural networks.
Perspectives
“This work provides a foundation for understanding how the transcription factor sequoia contributes to the precise wiring of the nervous system in Drosophila melanogaster. By linking specific mutations in seq to distinct defects in axon guidance and neural organisation, we begin to uncover how transcriptional regulation shapes circuit formation at the cellular level.”
Sofia Araújo
Universitat de Barcelona
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Sequoia affects Drosophila central nervous system development by regulating axonal extension and guidance, PLOS One, March 2026, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0333573.
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