The cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein (CPEB), Orb, is important for dendrite development and neuron fate specification in Drosophila melanogaster

•Drosophila orb functions in dendrite morphogenesis of Class IV da neurons.•orb mutants display defects in neuronal cell fate.•orbMI04761-GFSTF.0 is a hypomorphic allele. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding proteins (CPEBs) are widely conserved proteins that regulate the length of poly(A) tails in the cytoplasm, regulate translation, and regulate mRNA transport. While CPEBs are best known for regulating maternal messages in oocytes, CPEBs also have roles in many other cell types including neurons. Here we extend our knowledge of the roles of CPEBs in neurons by showing that the Drosophila CPEB-encoding gene, orb, is required for proper dendrite development in larval sensory dendritic arborization neurons. Furthermore, we provide evidence that orb is important for neuron cell fate specification.