Role of the EGF receptor pathway in growth and patterning of the Drosophila wing through the regulation of vestigial

Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (5) ◽  
pp. 975-985 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Nagaraj ◽  
A.T. Pickup ◽  
R. Howes ◽  
K. Moses ◽  
M. Freeman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Egf Receptor ◽  
Regulatory Gene ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Wing Disc ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Drosophila Wing ◽  
Expression Studies ◽  
Coordinated Expression ◽  
Wing Pouch

Growth and patterning of the Drosophila wing disc depends on the coordinated expression of the key regulatory gene vestigial both in the Dorsal-Ventral (D/V) boundary cells and in the wing pouch. We propose that a short-range signal originating from the core of the D/V boundary cells is responsible for activating EGFR in a zone of organizing cells on the edges of the D/V boundary. Using loss-of-function mutations and ectopic expression studies, we show that EGFR signaling is essential for vestigial transcription in these cells and for making them competent to undergo subsequent vestigial-mediated proliferation within the wing pouch.

Regulation of Drosophila wing vein patterning: net encodes a bHLH protein repressing rhomboid and is repressed by rhomboid-dependent Egfr signalling

Development ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 127 (21) ◽  
pp. 4729-4741 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Brentrup ◽  
H. Lerch ◽  
H. Jackle ◽  
M. Noll
Keyword(s):  
Imaginal Disc ◽  
Egf Receptor ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Wing Disc ◽  
Bhlh Protein ◽  
Wing Vein ◽  
Drosophila Wing ◽  
Vein Formation ◽  
Mutual Repression ◽  
Vein Patterning

The stereotyped pattern of veins in the Drosophila wing is generated in response to local EGF signalling. Mutations in the rhomboid (rho) gene, which encodes a sevenpass membrane protein required to enhance signalling transmitted by the EGF receptor (Egfr), inhibit vein development and disrupt the vein pattern. By contrast, net mutations produce ectopic veins in intervein regions. We have cloned the net gene and show that it encodes a basic HLH protein that probably acts as a transcriptional repressor. net and rho are expressed in mutually exclusive patterns during the development of the wing imaginal disc. Lack of net activity causes rho expression to expand, and vice versa. Furthermore, ectopic expression of net or rho results in their mutual repression and thus suppresses vein formation or generates tube-like wings composed of vein-like tissue. Egfr signalling and net exert mutually antagonising activities during the specification of vein versus intervein fate. While Egfr signalling represses net transcription, net exhibits a two-tiered control by repressing rho transcription and interfering with Egfr signalling downstream of Rho. Our results further suggest that net is required to maintain intervein development by restricting Egfr signalling, which promotes vein development, to the Net-free vein regions of the wing disc.

Quantitative EM of gap junction distribution in mutant drosophila wing discs

1983 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 720-721
Author(s):  
J.S. Ryerse
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Growth Control ◽  
Intercellular Junctions ◽  
Wing Disc ◽  
En Bloc ◽  
Metabolic Cooperation ◽  
Drosophila Wing ◽  
Adult Wing ◽  
Wing Discs ◽  
Wing Pouch

Gap junctions are intercellular junctions found in both vertebrates and invertebrates through which ions and small molecules can pass. Their distribution in tissues could be of critical importance for ionic coupling or metabolic cooperation between cells or for regulating the intracellular movement of growth control and pattern formation factors. Studies of the distribution of gap junctions in mutants which develop abnormally may shed light upon their role in normal development. I report here the distribution of gap junctions in the wing pouch of 3 Drosophila wing disc mutants, vg (vestigial) a cell death mutant, 1(2)gd (lethal giant disc) a pattern abnormality mutant and 1(2)gl (lethal giant larva) a neoplastic mutant and compare these with wildtype wing discs.The wing pouch (the anlagen of the adult wing blade) of a wild-type wing disc is shown in Fig. 1 and consists of columnar cells (Fig. 5) joined by gap junctions (Fig. 6). 14000x EMs of conventionally processed, UA en bloc stained, longitudinally sectioned wing pouches were enlarged to 45000x with a projector and tracings were made on which the lateral plasma membrane (LPM) and gap junctions were marked.

scholarly journals Partitioning of N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Fusion (NSF) Protein Function in Drosophila melanogaster: dNSF1 Is Required in the Nervous System, and dNSF2 Is Required in Mesoderm

Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 158 (1) ◽  
pp. 265-278
Author(s):  
Jessica A Golby ◽  
Leigh Anna Tolar ◽  
Leo Pallanck
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Protein Function ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Drosophila Genome ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Expression Studies ◽  
Larval Nervous System ◽  
Constitutive Secretion ◽  
Temporal And Spatial

Abstract The N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein (NSF) promotes the fusion of secretory vesicles with target membranes in both regulated and constitutive secretion. While it is thought that a single NSF may perform this function in many eukaryotes, previous work has shown that the Drosophila genome contains two distinct NSF genes, dNSF1 and dNSF2, raising the possibility that each plays a specific secretory role. To explore this possibility, we generated mutations in the dNSF2 gene and used these and novel dNSF1 loss-of-function mutations to analyze the temporal and spatial requirements and the degree of functional redundancy between dNSF1 and dNSF2. Results of this analysis indicate that dNSF1 function is required in the nervous system beginning at the adult stage of development and that dNSF2 function is required in mesoderm beginning at the first instar larval stage of development. Additional evidence suggests that dNSF1 and dNSF2 may play redundant roles during embryonic development and in the larval nervous system. Ectopic expression studies demonstrate that the dNSF1 and dNSF2 gene products can functionally substitute for one another. These results indicate that the Drosophila NSF proteins exhibit similar functional properties, but have evolved distinct tissue-specific roles.

Control of growth and patterning of the Drosophila wing imaginal disc by EGFR-mediated signaling

Development ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 129 (6) ◽  
pp. 1369-1376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myriam Zecca ◽  
Gary Struhl
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Imaginal Disc ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Wing Disc ◽  
Wing Imaginal Disc ◽  
Egfr Signaling ◽  
Drosophila Wing ◽  
Compartment Boundary ◽  
Egfr Ligand

The subdivision of the Drosophila wing imaginal disc into dorsoventral (DV) compartments and limb-body wall (wing-notum) primordia depends on Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signaling, which heritably activates apterous (ap) in D compartment cells and maintains Iroquois Complex (Iro-C) gene expression in prospective notum cells. We examine the source, identity and mode of action of the EGFR ligand(s) that specify these subdivisions. Of the three known ligands for the Drosophila EGFR, only Vein (Vn), but not Spitz or Gurken, is required for wing disc development. We show that Vn activity is required specifically in the dorsoproximal region of the wing disc for ap and Iro-C gene expression. However, ectopic expression of Vn in other locations does not reorganize ap or Iro-C gene expression. Hence, Vn appears to play a permissive rather than an instructive role in organizing the DV and wing-notum segregations, implying the existance of other localized factors that control where Vn-EGFR signaling is effective. After ap is heritably activated, the level of EGFR activity declines in D compartment cells as they proliferate and move ventrally, away from the source of the instructive ligand. We present evidence that this reduction is necessary for D and V compartment cells to interact along the compartment boundary to induce signals, like Wingless (Wg), which organize the subsequent growth and differentiation of the wing primordium.

scholarly journals Transvection in the Drosophila Ultrabithorax gene: a Cbx1 mutant allele induces ectopic expression of a normal allele in trans.

Genetics ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
J E Castelli-Gair ◽  
J L Micol ◽  
A García-Bellido
Keyword(s):  
Double Mutant ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Imaginal Discs ◽  
Wing Disc ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Normal Allele ◽  
Single Mutant ◽  
Adult Wing ◽  
Disc Cells ◽  
In Cis

Abstract In wild-type Drosophila melanogaster larvae, the Ultrabithorax (Ubx) gene is expressed in the haltere imaginal discs but not in the majority of cells of the wing imaginal discs. Ectopic expression of the Ubx gene in wing discs can be elicited by the presence of Contrabithorax (Cbx) gain-of-function alleles of the Ubx gene or by loss-of-function mutations in Polycomb (Pc) or in other trans-regulatory genes which behave as repressors of Ubx gene activity. Several Ubx loss-of-function alleles cause the absence of detectable Ubx proteins (UBX) or the presence of truncated UBX lacking the homeodomain. We have compared adult wing phenotypes with larval wing disc UBX patterns in genotypes involving double mutant chromosomes carrying in cis one of those Ubx mutations and the Cbx1 mutation. We show that such double mutant genes are (1) active in the same cells in which the single mutant Cbx1 is expressed, although they are unable to yield functional proteins, and (2) able to induce ectopic expression of a normal homologous Ubx allele in a part of the cells in which the single mutant Cbx1 is active. That induction is conditional upon pairing of the homologous chromosomes (the phenomenon known as transvection), and it is not mediated by UBX. Depletion of Pc gene products by Pc3 mutation strongly enhances the induction phenomenon, as shown by (1) the increase of the number of wing disc cells in which induction of the homologous allele is detectable, and (2) the induction of not only a paired normal allele but also an unpaired one.

Argos and Spitz group genes function to regulate midline glial cell number in Drosophila embryos

Development ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 124 (19) ◽  
pp. 3787-3796 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Stemerdink ◽  
J.R. Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Glial Cell ◽  
Nerve Cord ◽  
Egf Receptor ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Cell Number ◽  
Glia Cell ◽  
Drosophila Embryos

The midline glia of the Drosophila embryonic nerve cord undergo a reduction in cell number after facilitating commissural tract morphogenesis. The numbers of midline glia entering apoptosis at this stage can be increased by a loss or reduction of function in genes of the spitz group or Drosophila EGF receptor (DER) pathway. Argos, a secreted molecule with an atypical EGF motif, is postulated to function as a DER antagonist. In this work, we assess the role of argos in the determination of midline glia cell number. Although all midline glia express DER, argos expression is restricted to the midline glia which do not enter apoptosis. Fewer midline glia enter apoptosis in embryos lacking argos function. Ectopic expression of argos is sufficient to remove all DER-expressing midline glia from the nerve cord, even those that already express argos. DER expression is not terminated in the midline glia after spitz group signaling triggers changes in gene expression. It is therefore likely that an attenuation of DER signaling by Argos is integrated with the augmentation of DER signaling by Spitz throughout the period of reduction of midline glia number. We suggest that signaling by Spitz but not Argos is restricted to adhesive junctions. In this manner, midline glia not forming signaling junctions remain sensitive to juxtacrine Argos signaling, while an autocrine Argos signal is excluded by the adhesive junction.

Drosophila Lyra Mutations Are Gain-of-Function Mutations of senseless

Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 157 (1) ◽  
pp. 307-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riitta Nolo ◽  
Lois A Abbott ◽  
Hugo J Bellen
Keyword(s):  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Wing Disc ◽  
Brdu Incorporation ◽  
Wing Margin ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Severe Reduction ◽  
Wing Discs ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient ◽  
Wing Pouch

Abstract The Lyra mutation was first described by Jerry Coyne in 1935. Lyra causes recessive pupal lethality and adult heterozygous Lyra mutants exhibit a dominant loss of the anterior and posterior wing margins. Unlike many mutations that cause loss of wing tissue (e.g., scalloped, Beadex, cut, and apterous-Xasta), Lyra wing discs do not exhibit increased necrotic or apoptotic cell death, nor do they show altered BrdU incorporation. However, during wing disc eversion, loss of the anterior and posterior wing margins is apparent. We have previously shown that senseless, a gene that is necessary and sufficient for peripheral nervous system (PNS) development, is allelic to Lyra. Here we show by several genetic criteria that Lyra alleles are neomorphic alleles of senseless that cause ectopic expression of SENSELESS in the wing pouch. Similarly, overexpression of SENSELESS in the wing disc causes loss of wing margin tissue, thereby mimicking the Lyra phenotype. Lyra mutants display aberrant expression of DELTA, VESTIGIAL, WINGLESS, and CUT. As in Lyra mutants, overexpression of SENSELESS in some areas of the wing pouch also leads to loss of WINGLESS and CUT. In summary, our data indicate that overexpression of SENSELESS causes a severe reduction in NOTCH signaling that in turn may lead to decreased transcription of several key genes required for wing development, leading to a failure in cell proliferation and loss of wing margin tissue.

scholarly journals Functional Analysis of Genes Differentially Expressed in the Drosophila Wing Disc: Role of Transcripts Enriched in the Wing Region

Genetics ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 174 (4) ◽  
pp. 1973-1982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L. Jacobsen ◽  
Donna Cain ◽  
Litty Paul ◽  
Steven Justiniano ◽  
Anwar Alli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Analysis ◽  
Wing Disc ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Drosophila Wing

scholarly journals Autonomous termination of proliferation in the Drosophila wing disc is TORC1 dependent

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin Strassburger ◽  
Marilena Lutz ◽  
Sandra Müller ◽  
Aurelio A. Teleman
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Manipulation ◽  
Wing Disc ◽  
Wing Size ◽  
Final Size ◽  
Drosophila Wing ◽  
Adult Wing ◽  
Wing Discs ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Constant Growth ◽  
Wing Pouch

AbstractCells in a developing organ stop proliferating when the organ reaches a correct, final size. The underlying mechanisms are not understood. Although many signaling pathways and cell cycle components are required to sustain cell proliferation, which one of these turns off to terminate proliferation is not known. Here we study proliferation termination using Drosophila wing discs. We extend larval development to provide wing discs a constant growth-sustaining environment, allowing them to terminate proliferation autonomously. We find that the wing pouch, which forms the adult wing blade, terminates proliferation in the absence of brinker or warts, indicating that neither Dpp signaling nor Hippo/Yorkie signaling control final wing size. Instead, termination of proliferation coincides with reduced TORC1 activity and is bypassed by reactivating TORC1. Hence proliferation ceases due to reduced cell growth. Experimental manipulation of Dpp or Yki signaling can bypass proliferation termination in hinge and notum regions, suggesting that the mechanisms regulating proliferation termination may be distinct in different regions of the disc.One Sentence SummaryUsing Drosophila, Strassburger et al. investigate the termination of proliferation of an organ when it reaches its final size, and show this occurs due to a drop in TORC1 signaling.

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