GRUEBER, WESLEY B., Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics Mechanisms of dendritic morphogenesis and patterning. Office: Physicians & Surgeons | 12th floor | Room 401 Telephone: 212.305.1701 Fax: 212.305.5775 Email:wg2135@columbia.edu Grueber Lab

Current Research

Dendrites and axons show extraordinarily diverse forms, with important implications for nervous system wiring and neuronal function. Our lab is interested in how neurons acquire their type-specific morphology and how this morphology influences nervous system function. To approach this problem, we use genetic mosaic and confocal microscopy techniques to study morphological patterns in the nervous system, and we use molecular and genetic approaches to identify the mechanisms by which specific neuronal morphologies are sculpted during development.

A major focus has been the multidendritic sensory neurons that innervate the body wall of Drosophila melanogaster. These neurons show diverse, yet stereotyped, morphologies and are therefore well suited for us to examine how a neuron achieves a cell-specific or class-specific branching pattern. With this system, we can both genetically manipulate and also image neuronal morphogenesis at the level of single neurons. For example, we have shown that dendrites of the same morphological type show complete but non-redundant coverage of the body wall, akin to how tiles cover a floor. This tiling of dendritic territories, found also in vertebrate sensory systems, appears to involve a repulsion mechanism operating specifically between like-type dendrites.

Recently we have completed a genetic screen at the level of single identifiable neurons in vivo, which will allow us to explore the molecular mechanisms of dendritic branching, tiling, and territory formation. We have also initiated studies to examine how sensory information from peripheral neurons is represented centrally, which should allow us to begin to link dendritic structure and function.

Selected Publications

Corty M.M., Matthews B.J., and Grueber W.B. 2009. Molecules and mechanisms of dendrite development in Drosophila. Development 136:1049-1061.

Zlatic M., Li F., Strigini M., Grueber W., and Bate M. 2009. Positional Cues in the Drosophila Nerve Cord: Semaphorins Pattern the Dorso-Ventral Axis. PLoS Biol 7(6): e1000135. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1000135

Matthews B.J., Kim M.E.*, Flanagan J.J.*, Hattori D., Clemens J.C., Zipursky S.L., and Grueber W.B. 2007. Dendrite self-avoidance is controlled by Dscam. Cell 129:593-604.

Grueber, W.B., Jan, L.Y., and Jan, Y.N. 2003. Different levels of the homeodomain protein Cut regulate distinct dendrite branching patterns of Drosophila multidendritic neurons. Cell 112: 805-818.

Grueber, W.B., Jan, L.Y., and Jan, Y.N. 2002. Tiling of the Drosophila epidermis by multidendritic sensory neurons. Development 129: 2867-2878.