Argos transcription is induced by the Drosophila EGF receptor pathway to form an inhibitory feedback loop

Development ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Golembo ◽  
R. Schweitzer ◽  
M. Freeman ◽  
B.Z. Shilo

Argos is a secreted molecule with an atypical EGF motif. It was recently shown to function as an inhibitor of the signaling triggered by the Drosophila EGF receptor (DER). In this work, we determine the contribution of Argos to the establishment of cell fates in the embryonic ventral ectoderm. Graded activation of DER is essential for patterning the ventral ectoderm. argos mutant embryos show expansion of ventral cell fates suggesting hyperactivation of the DER pathway. In the embryonic ventral ectoderm, argos is expressed in the ventralmost row of cells. We show that argos expression in the ventral ectoderm is induced by the DER pathway: argos is not expressed in DER mutant embryos, while it is ectopically expressed in the entire ventral ectoderm following ubiquitous activation of the DER pathway. argos expression appears to be triggered directly by the DER pathway, since induction can also be observed in cell culture, following activation of DER by its ligand, Spitz. Argos therefore functions in a sequential manner, to restrict the duration and level of DER signaling. This type of inhibitory feedback loop may represent a general paradigm for signaling pathways inducing diverse cell fates within a population of non-committed cells.

Development ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 122 (11) ◽  
pp. 3363-3370 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Golembo ◽  
E. Raz ◽  
B.Z. Shilo

The Drosophila EGF receptor (DER) is activated by secreted Spitz to induce different cell fates in the ventral ectoderm. Processing of the precursor transmembrane Spitz to generate the secreted form was shown to be the limiting event, but the cells in which processing takes place and the mechanism that may generate a gradient of secreted Spitz in the ectoderm were not known. The ectodermal defects in single minded (sim) mutant embryos, in which the midline fails to develop, suggested that the midline cells contribute to patterning of the ventral ectoderm. This work shows that the midline provides the site for Spitz expression and processing. The Rhomboid and Star proteins are also expressed and required in the midline. The ectodermal defects of spitz, rho or Star mutant embryos could be rescued by inducing the expression of the respective normal genes only in the midline cells. Rho and Star thus function non-autonomously, and may be required for the production or processing of the Spitz precursor. Secreted Spitz is the only sim-dependent contribution of the midline to patterning the ectoderm, since the ventral defects observed in sim mutant embryos can be overcome by expression of secreted Spitz in the ectoderm. While ectopic expression of secreted Spitz in the ectoderm or mesoderm gave rise to ventralization of the embryo, increased expression of secreted Spitz in the midline did not lead to alterations in ectoderm patterning. A mechanism for adjustment to variable levels of secreted Spitz emanating from the midline may be provided by Argos, which forms an inhibitory feedback loop for DER activation. The production of secreted Spitz in the midline, may provide a stable source for graded DER activation in the ventral ectoderm.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kishore Hari ◽  
Varun Ullanat ◽  
Archana Balasubramanian ◽  
Aditi Gopalan ◽  
Mohit Kumar Jolly

Elucidating the principles of cellular decision-making is of fundamental importance. These decisions are often orchestrated by underlying regulatory networks. While we understand the dynamics of simple network motifs, how do large networks lead to a limited number of phenotypes, despite their complexity, remains largely elusive. Here, we investigate five different networks governing epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity and identified a latent design principles in their topology that limits their phenotypic repertoire - the presence of two 'teams' of nodes engaging in a mutually inhibitory feedback loop, forming a toggle switch. These teams are specific to these networks and directly shape the phenotypic landscape and consequently the frequency and stability of terminal phenotypes vs. the intermediary ones. Our analysis reveals that network topology alone can contain information about phenotypic distributions it can lead to, thus obviating the need to simulate them. We unravel topological signatures that can drive canalization of cell-fates during diverse decision-making processes.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 636-639
Author(s):  
Fernanda S. Matias ◽  
Pedro V. Carelli ◽  
Claudio R. Mirasso ◽  
Mauro Copelli

2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 796-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay K. MacDougall ◽  
Mary Elizabeth Gagou ◽  
Sally J. Leevers ◽  
Ernst Hafen ◽  
Michael D. Waterfield

ABSTRACT Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) can be divided into three distinct classes (I, II, and III) on the basis of their domain structures and the lipid signals that they generate. Functions have been assigned to the class I and class III enzymes but have not been established for the class II PI3Ks. We have obtained the first evidence for a biological function for a class II PI3K by expressing this enzyme during Drosophila melanogaster development and by using deficiencies that remove the endogenous gene. Wild-type and catalytically inactive PI3K_68D transgenes have opposite effects on the number of sensory bristles and on wing venation phenotypes induced by modified epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor signaling. These results indicate that the endogenous PI3K_68D may act antagonistically to the EGF receptor-stimulated Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and downstream of, or parallel to, the Notch receptor. A class II polyproline motif in PI3K_68D can bind the Drk adaptor protein in vitro, primarily via the N-terminal SH3 domain of Drk. Drk may thus be important for the localization of PI3K_68D, allowing it to modify signaling pathways downstream of cell surface receptors. The phenotypes obtained are markedly distinct from those generated by expression of the Drosophila class I PI3K, which affects growth but not pattern formation.


Development ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 128 (15) ◽  
pp. 3001-3015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela L. Bradley ◽  
Deborah J. Andrew

During development, directed cell migration is crucial for achieving proper shape and function of organs. One well-studied example is the embryonic development of the larval tracheal system of Drosophila, in which at least four signaling pathways coordinate cell migration to form an elaborate branched network essential for oxygen delivery throughout the larva. FGF signaling is required for guided migration of all tracheal branches, whereas the DPP, EGF receptor, and Wingless/WNT signaling pathways each mediate the formation of specific subsets of branches. Here, we characterize ribbon, which encodes a BTB/POZ-containing protein required for specific tracheal branch migration. In ribbon mutant tracheae, the dorsal trunk fails to form, and ventral branches are stunted; however, directed migrations of the dorsal and visceral branches are largely unaffected. The dorsal trunk also fails to form when FGF or Wingless/WNT signaling is lost, and we show that ribbon functions downstream of, or parallel to, these pathways to promote anterior-posterior migration. Directed cell migration of the salivary gland and dorsal epidermis are also affected in ribbon mutants, suggesting that conserved mechanisms may be employed to orient cell migrations in multiple tissues during development.


Development ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 122 (11) ◽  
pp. 3355-3362 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Gabay ◽  
H. Scholz ◽  
M. Golembo ◽  
A. Klaes ◽  
B.Z. Shilo ◽  
...  

The induction of different cell fates along the dorsoventral axis of the Drosophila embryo requires a graded activity of the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase (DER). Here we have identified primary and secondary target genes of DER, which mediate the determination of discrete ventral cell fates. High levels of DER activation in the ventralmost cells trigger expression of the transcription factors encoded by ventral nervous system defective (vnd) and pointed P1 (pntPl). Concomitant with the induction of pntP1, high levels of DER activity lead to inactivation of the Yan protein, a transcriptional repressor of Pointed-target genes. These two antagonizing transcription factors subsequently control the expression of secondary target genes such as otd, argos and tartan. The simultaneous effects of the DER pathway on pntP1 induction and Yan inactivation may contribute to the definition of the border of the ventralmost cell fates.


Development ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 124 (22) ◽  
pp. 4661-4671 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.J. Clegg ◽  
D.M. Frost ◽  
M.K. Larkin ◽  
L. Subrahmanyan ◽  
Z. Bryant ◽  
...  

We describe a mutant, maelstrom, that disrupts a previously unobserved step in mRNA localization within the early oocyte, distinct from nurse-cell-to-oocyte RNA transport. Mutations in maelstrom disturb the localization of mRNAs for Gurken (a ligand for the Drosophila Egf receptor), Oskar and Bicoid at the posterior of the developing (stage 3–6) oocyte. maelstrom mutants display phenotypes detected in gurken loss-of-function mutants: posterior follicle cells with anterior cell fates, bicoid mRNA localization at both poles of the stage 8 oocyte and ventralization of the eggshell. These data are consistent with the suggestion that early posterior localization of gurken mRNA is essential for activation of the Egf receptor pathway in posterior follicle cells. Posterior localization of mRNA in stage 3–6 oocytes could therefore be one of the earliest known steps in the establishment of oocyte polarity. The maelstrom gene encodes a novel protein that has a punctate distribution in the cytoplasm of the nurse cells and the oocyte until the protein disappears in stage 7 of oogenesis.


Development ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 120 (8) ◽  
pp. 2245-2257 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Roth ◽  
T. Schupbach

In Drosophila, the dorsoventral asymmetry of the egg chamber depends on a dorsalizing signal that emanates from the oocyte. This signal is supplied by the TGF alpha-like gurken protein whose RNA is localized to the dorsal-anterior corner of the oocyte, gurken protein is the potential ligand of the Drosophila EGF receptor homolog (torpedo), which is expressed in the follicular epithelium surrounding the oocyte. Here, we describe how changes in the dorsalizing germ-line signal affect the embryonic dorsoventral pattern. A reduction in strength of the germ-line signal as produced by mutations in gurken or torpedo does not change the slope of the embryonic dorsoventral morphogen gradient, but causes a splitting of the gradient ventrally. This leads to embryos with two partial dorsoventral axes. A change in distribution of the germ-line signal as caused by fs(1)K10, squid and orb mutations leads to a shift in the orientation of the embryonic dorsoventral axis relative to the anterior-posterior axis. In extreme cases, this results in embryos with a dorsoventral axis almost parallel to the anterior-posterior axis. These results imply that gurken, unlike other localized cytoplasmic determinants, is not directly responsible for the establishment of cell fates along a body axis, but that it restricts and orients an active axis-forming process which occurs later in the follicular epithelium or in the early embryo.


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