Evidence for a glycosaminoglycan on the nudel protein important for dorsoventral patterning of the drosophila embryo

2002 ◽  
Vol 224 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia L. Turcotte ◽  
Carl Hashimoto
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Dorsoventral Patterning

A group of genes required for maintenance of the amnioserosa tissue in Drosophila

Development ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 122 (5) ◽  
pp. 1343-1352 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.H. Frank ◽  
C. Rushlow
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Cell Loss ◽  
Dorsal Side ◽  
Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Epithelial Tissue ◽  
Dorsoventral Patterning ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Germ Band ◽  
Initial Development

The amnioserosa is an extraembryonic, epithelial tissue that covers the dorsal side of the Drosophila embryo. The initial development of the amnioserosa is controlled by the dorsoventral patterning genes. Here we show that a group of genes, which we refer to as the U-shaped-group (ush-group), is required for maintenance of the amnioserosa tissue once it has differentiated. Using several molecular markers, we examined amnioserosa development in the ush-group mutants: u-shaped (ush), hindsight (hnt), serpent (srp) and tail-up (tup). Our results show that the amnioserosa in these mutants is specified correctly and begins to differentiate as in wild type. However, following germ-band extension, there is a premature loss of the amnioserosa. We demonstrate that this cell loss is a consequence of programmed cell death (apoptosis) in ush, hnt and srp, but not in tup. We discuss the role of the ush-group genes in maintaining the amnioserosa's viability. We also discuss a possible role for the amnioserosa in germ-band retraction in light of these mutants' unretracted phenotype.

scholarly journals DmMyD88 controls dorsoventral patterning of the Drosophila embryo

EMBO Reports ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakaria Kambris ◽  
Hana Bilak ◽  
Rosalba D'Alessandro ◽  
Marcia Belvin ◽  
Jean‐Luc Imler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Dorsoventral Patterning

Biochemical Defects of Mutant nudel Alleles Causing Early Developmental Arrest or Dorsalization of the Drosophila Embryo

Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 154 (1) ◽  
pp. 247-257
Author(s):  
Ellen K LeMosy ◽  
Cynthia L Leclerc ◽  
Carl Hashimoto
Keyword(s):  
Serine Proteases ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Follicle Cells ◽  
Dorsoventral Patterning ◽  
Protease Domain ◽  
Serine Protease Domain ◽  
Embryonic Arrest ◽  
Processing Stability

Abstract The nudel gene of Drosophila is maternally required both for structural integrity of the egg and for dorsoventral patterning of the embryo. It encodes a structurally modular protein that is secreted by ovarian follicle cells. Genetic and molecular studies have suggested that the Nudel protein is also functionally modular, with a serine protease domain that is specifically required for ventral development. Here we describe biochemical and immunolocalization studies that provide insight into the molecular basis for the distinct phenotypes produced by nudel mutations and for the interactions between these alleles. Mutations causing loss of embryonic dorsoventral polarity result in a failure to activate the protease domain of Nudel. Our analyses support previous findings that catalytic activity of the protease domain is required for dorsoventral patterning and that the Nudel protease is auto-activated and reveal an important role for a region adjacent to the protease domain in Nudel protease function. Mutations causing egg fragility and early embryonic arrest result in a significant decrease in extracellular Nudel protein, due to defects in post-translational processing, stability, or secretion. On the basis of these and other studies of serine proteases, we suggest potential mechanisms for the complementary and antagonistic interactions between the nudel alleles.

A positive role for Short gastrulation in modulating BMP signaling during dorsoventral patterning in theDrosophilaembryo

Development ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 128 (19) ◽  
pp. 3831-3841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Decotto ◽  
Edwin L. Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Family Members ◽  
Positional Information ◽  
Dorsal Side ◽  
Bmp Signaling ◽  
Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Functional Difference ◽  
Ligand Specificity ◽  
Dorsoventral Patterning ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Negative Function

Positional information in the dorsoventral axis of the Drosophila embryo is encoded by a BMP activity gradient formed by synergistic signaling between the BMP family members Decapentaplegic (DPP) and Screw (SCW). short gastrulation (sog), which is functionally homologous to Xenopus Chordin, is expressed in the ventrolateral regions of the embryo and has been shown to act as a local antagonist of BMP signaling. Here we demonstrate that SOG has a second function, which is to promote BMP signaling on the dorsal side of the embryo. We show that a weak, homozygous-viable sog mutant is enhanced to lethality by reduction in the activities of the Smad family members Mad or Medea, and that the lethality is caused by defects in the molecular specification and subsequent cellular differentiation of the dorsal-most cell type, the amnioserosa. While previous data had suggested that the negative function of SOG is directed against SCW, we present data that suggests that the positive activity of SOG is directed towards DPP. We demonstrate that Chordin shares the same apparent ligand specificity as does SOG, preferentially inhibiting SCW but not DPP activity. However, in Drosophila assays Chordin does not have the same capacity to elevate BMP signaling as does SOG, identifying a functional difference in the otherwise well conserved process of dorsoventral pattern formation in arthropods and chordates.

aubergine enhances oskar translation in the Drosophila ovary

Development ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 122 (5) ◽  
pp. 1631-1639 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.E. Wilson ◽  
J.E. Connell ◽  
P.M. Macdonald
Keyword(s):  
Translational Regulation ◽  
Genetic Screen ◽  
Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Dorsoventral Patterning ◽  
Maternal Mrna ◽  
Body Patterning ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Drosophila Ovary ◽  
New Alleles

Although translational regulation of maternal mRNA is important for proper development of the Drosophila embryo, few genes involved in this process have been identified. In this report, we describe the role of aubergine in oskar translation. Previously, aubergine has been implicated in dorsoventral patterning, as eggs from aubergine mutant mothers are ventralized and seldom fertilized (Schupbach, T. and Wieschaus, E. (1991) Genetics 129, 1119–1136). We have isolated two new alleles of aubergine in a novel genetic screen and have shown that aubergine is also required for posterior body patterning, as the small fraction of eggs from aubergine- mothers that are fertilized develop into embryos which lack abdominal segmentation. Although aubergine mutations do not appear to affect the stability of either oskar mRNA or protein, the level of oskar protein is significantly reduced in aubergine mutants. Thus, aubergine is required to enhance oskar translation. While aubergine-dependence is conferred upon oskar mRNA by sequences in the oskar 3′ UTR, aubergine may influence oskar translation through an interaction with sequences upstream of the oskar 3′ UTR.

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