Genetic analysis of laminin A reveals diverse functions during morphogenesis in Drosophila

Development ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Henchcliffe ◽  
L. Garcia-Alonso ◽  
J. Tang ◽  
C.S. Goodman
Keyword(s):  
Cell Fate ◽  
Genetic Characterization ◽  
Complete Loss ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Partial Loss ◽  
Multidomain Structure ◽  
A Subunit ◽  
Wing Structure

In order to dissect the functions of laminin A in vivo, we have undertaken a molecular and genetic characterization of the laminin A subunit (lamA) gene in Drosophila. Sequence analysis predicts a multidomain structure similar to mammalian homologs. We generated a series of complete and partial loss-of-function mutant alleles of the lamA gene; complete loss-of-function mutations lead to late embryonic lethality. Certain combinations of partial loss-of-function lamA alleles give rise to escaper adults, which have rough eyes associated with changes in cell fate and pattern, misshapen legs and defects in wing structure. These phenotypes suggest that laminin A has diverse functions during morphogenesis in Drosophila.

scholarly journals Analysis of Small Critical Regions of Swi1 Conferring Prion Formation, Maintenance, and Transmission

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Valtierra ◽  
Zhiqiang Du ◽  
Liming Li
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Nonsense Suppression ◽  
Protein Conformations ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Partial Loss ◽  
Poor Growth ◽  
Content Type ◽  
A Subunit ◽  
Critical Regions

ABSTRACT Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains several prion elements, which are epigenetically transmitted as self-perpetuating protein conformations. One such prion is [SWI + ], whose protein determinant is Swi1, a subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex. We previously reported that [SWI + ] formation results in a partial loss-of-function phenotype of poor growth in nonglucose medium and abolishment of multicellular features. We also showed that the first 38 amino acids of Swi1 propagated [SWI +]. We show here that a region as small as the first 32 amino acids of Swi1 (Swi11–32) can decorate [SWI +] aggregation and stably maintain and transmit [SWI +] independently of full-length Swi1. Regions smaller than Swi11–32 are either incapable of aggregation or unstably propagate [SWI +]. When fused to Sup35MC, the [PSI + ] determinant lacking its PrD, Swi11–31 and Swi11–32 can act as transferable prion domains (PrDs). The resulting fusions give rise to a novel chimeric prion, [SPS +], exhibiting [PSI +]-like nonsense suppression. Thus, an NH2-terminal region of ∼30 amino acids of Swi1 contains all the necessary information for in vivo prion formation, maintenance, and transmission. This PrD is unique in size and composition: glutamine free, asparagine rich, and the smallest defined to date. Our findings broaden our understanding of what features allow a protein region to serve as a PrD.

scholarly journals Roles for RNA export factor, Nxt1, in ensuring muscle integrity and normal RNA expression in Drosophila

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin van der Graaf ◽  
Katia Jindrich ◽  
Robert Mitchell ◽  
Helen White-Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Export ◽  
Rna Stability ◽  
Muscle Degeneration ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Partial Loss ◽  
Export Pathway ◽  
Pathway Gene ◽  
Rna Export

Abstract The mRNA export pathway is responsible for the transport of mRNAs from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and thus is essential for protein production and normal cellular functions. A partial loss of function allele of the mRNA export factor Nxt1 in Drosophila shows reduced viability and sterility. A previous study has shown that the male fertility defect is due to a defect in transcription and RNA stability, indicating the potential for this pathway to be implicated in processes beyond the known mRNA transport function. Here we investigate the reduced viability of Nxt1 partial loss of function mutants, and describe a defect in growth and maintenance of the larval muscles, leading to muscle degeneration. RNA-seq revealed reduced expression of a set of mRNAs, particularly from genes with long introns in Nxt1 mutant carcass. We detected differential expression of circRNA, and significantly fewer distinct circRNAs expressed in the mutants. Despite the widespread defects in gene expression, muscle degeneration was rescued by increased expression of the costamere component tn (abba) in muscles. This is the first report of a role for the RNA export pathway gene Nxt1 in the maintenance of muscle integrity. Our data also links the mRNA export pathway to a specific role in the expression of mRNA and circRNA from common precursor genes, in vivo.

scholarly journals The Rap1–Rgl–Ral signaling network regulates neuroblast cortical polarity and spindle orientation

2011 ◽  
Vol 195 (4) ◽  
pp. 553-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Carmena ◽  
Aljona Makarova ◽  
Stephan Speicher
Keyword(s):  
Cell Fate ◽  
Asymmetric Cell Division ◽  
Signaling Network ◽  
Spindle Orientation ◽  
Nucleotide Exchange ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Axis Orientation ◽  
Division Axis ◽  
Guanosine Triphosphatase

A crucial first step in asymmetric cell division is to establish an axis of cell polarity along which the mitotic spindle aligns. Drosophila melanogaster neural stem cells, called neuroblasts (NBs), divide asymmetrically through intrinsic polarity cues, which regulate spindle orientation and cortical polarity. In this paper, we show that the Ras-like small guanosine triphosphatase Rap1 signals through the Ral guanine nucleotide exchange factor Rgl and the PDZ protein Canoe (Cno; AF-6/Afadin in vertebrates) to modulate the NB division axis and its apicobasal cortical polarity. Rap1 is slightly enriched at the apical pole of metaphase/anaphase NBs and was found in a complex with atypical protein kinase C and Par6 in vivo. Loss of function and gain of function of Rap1, Rgl, and Ral proteins disrupt the mitotic axis orientation, the localization of Cno and Mushroom body defect, and the localization of cell fate determinants. We propose that the Rap1–Rgl–Ral signaling network is a novel mechanism that cooperates with other intrinsic polarity cues to modulate asymmetric NB division.

scholarly journals Dysbindin deficiency Alters Cardiac BLOC-1 Complex and Myozap Levels in Mice

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 2390
Author(s):  
Ankush Borlepawar ◽  
Nesrin Schmiedel ◽  
Matthias Eden ◽  
Lynn Christen ◽  
Alexandra Rosskopf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Interaction Partners ◽  
Lysosome Related Organelles ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Schizophrenia Susceptibility

Dysbindin, a schizophrenia susceptibility marker and an essential constituent of BLOC-1 (biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-1), has recently been associated with cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through the activation of Myozap-RhoA-mediated SRF signaling. We employed sandy mice (Dtnbp1_KO), which completely lack Dysbindin protein because of a spontaneous deletion of introns 5–7 of the Dtnbp1 gene, for pathophysiological characterization of the heart. Unlike in vitro, the loss-of-function of Dysbindin did not attenuate cardiac hypertrophy, either in response to transverse aortic constriction stress or upon phenylephrine treatment. Interestingly, however, the levels of hypertrophy-inducing interaction partner Myozap as well as the BLOC-1 partners of Dysbindin like Muted and Pallidin were dramatically reduced in Dtnbp1_KO mouse hearts. Taken together, our data suggest that Dysbindin’s role in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is redundant in vivo, yet essential to maintain the stability of its direct interaction partners like Myozap, Pallidin and Muted.

scholarly journals Characterization of a Spontaneous 9.5-Kilobase-Deletion Mutant of Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68 Reveals Tissue-Specific Genetic Requirements for Latency

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (13) ◽  
pp. 6532-6544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric T. Clambey ◽  
Herbert W. Virgin ◽  
Samuel H. Speck
Keyword(s):  
Deletion Mutant ◽  
Latent Infection ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Murine Gammaherpesvirus ◽  
Peritoneal Cells ◽  
Gammaherpesvirus 68 ◽  
Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68

ABSTRACT Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (γHV68 [also known as MHV-68]) establishes a latent infection in mice, providing a small-animal model with which to identify host and viral factors that regulate gammaherpesvirus latency. While γHV68 establishes a latent infection in multiple tissues, including splenocytes and peritoneal cells, the requirements for latent infection within these tissues are poorly defined. Here we report the characterization of a spontaneous 9.5-kb-deletion mutant of γHV68 that lacks the M1, M2, M3, and M4 genes and eight viral tRNA-like genes. Previously, this locus has been shown to contain the latency-associated M2, M3, and viral tRNA-like genes. Through characterization of this mutant, we found that the M1, M2, M3, M4 genes and the viral tRNA-like genes are dispensable for (i) in vitro replication and (ii) the establishment and maintenance of latency in vivo and reactivation from latency following intraperitoneal infection. In contrast, following intranasal infection with this mutant, there was a defect in splenic latency at both early and late times, a phenotype not observed in peritoneal cells. These results indicate (i) that there are different genetic requirements for the establishment of latency in different latent reservoirs and (ii) that the genetic requirements for latency depend on the route of infection. While some of these phenotypes have been observed with specific mutations in the M1 and M2 genes, other phenotypes have never been observed with the available γHV68 mutants. These studies highlight the importance of loss-of-function mutations in defining the genetic requirements for the establishment and maintenance of herpesvirus latency.

The SCL Transcription Factor Supports Erythroid Cell Survival and Differentiation Downstream of the Erythropoietin Receptor.

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 818-818
Author(s):  
Rachid Lahlil ◽  
Richard Martin ◽  
Peter D. Aplan ◽  
C. Glenn Begley ◽  
Jacqueline E. Damen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Cell Survival ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Genetic Interaction ◽  
Fetal Liver ◽  
Erythropoietin Receptor ◽  
Erythroid Cell ◽  
Loss Of Function

Abstract Erythroid cell development critically depends on the SCL/Tal1 transcription factor and on erythropoietin signalling. In the present study, we have taken several approaches to show that the two genes operate within the same pathway to consolidate the erythroid lineage. Signaling through the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) upregulates SCL protein levels in a clonal cell line (TF-1) in vitro, and in murine fetal liver cells in vivo, when Epor−/− cells were compared to those of wild type littermates at E12.5. In addition, we provide functional evidence for a linear pathway from EpoR to SCL that regulates erythropoiesis. Interfering with SCL induction or SCL function prevents the anti-apoptotic effect of Epo in TF-1 cells and conversely, ectopic SCL expression is sufficient to substitute for Epo to transiently maintain cell survival. In vivo, SCL gain of function complements the cellular defects in Epor−/− embryos to support cell survival and maturation during primitive and definitive erythropoiesis, as assessed by cellular and histological analyses of Epor−/− SCLtg embryos. Moreover, several erythroid specific genes that are decreased in Epor−/− embryos are rescued by the SCL transgene including glycophorinA, bH1 and bmaj globin, providing molecular confirmation of the functional and genetic interaction between Epor and SCL. Conversely, erythropoiesis becomes deficient in compound Epor+/−SCL+/− heterozygote mice, indicating that the genetic interaction between EpoR and SCL is synthetic. Finally, using EpoR mutants that harbour well defined signalling deficiencies, combined with gain and loss of function approaches for specific kinases, we identify MAPK as the major signal transduction pathway downstream of EpoR that upregulates SCL function, necessary for erythroid cell survival and differentiation. Taken together, our observations are consistent with the view that cytokines can influence cell fate by altering the dosage of lineage transcriptional regulators.

scholarly journals MKP-3 Has Essential Roles as a Negative Regulator of the Ras/Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway during Drosophila Development

2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 573-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myungjin Kim ◽  
Guang-Ho Cha ◽  
Sunhong Kim ◽  
Jun Hee Lee ◽  
Jeehye Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Photoreceptor Cells ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Wing Vein ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

ABSTRACT Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 3 (MKP-3) is a well-known negative regulator in the Ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-MAPK signaling pathway responsible for cell fate determination and proliferation during development. However, the physiological roles of MKP-3 and the mechanism by which MKP-3 regulates Ras/Drosophila ERK (DERK) signaling in vivo have not been determined. Here, we demonstrated that Drosophila MKP-3 (DMKP-3) is critically involved in cell differentiation, proliferation, and gene expression by suppressing the Ras/DERK pathway, specifically binding to DERK via the N-terminal ERK-binding domain of DMKP-3. Overexpression of DMKP-3 reduced the number of photoreceptor cells and inhibited wing vein differentiation. Conversely, DMKP-3 hypomorphic mutants exhibited extra photoreceptor cells and wing veins, and its null mutants showed striking phenotypes, such as embryonic lethality and severe defects in oogenesis. All of these phenotypes were highly similar to those of the gain-of-function mutants of DERK/rl. The functional interaction between DMKP-3 and the Ras/DERK pathway was further confirmed by genetic interactions between DMKP-3 loss-of-function mutants or overexpressing transgenic flies and various mutants of the Ras/DERK pathway. Collectively, these data provide the direct evidences that DMKP-3 is indispensable to the regulation of DERK signaling activity during Drosophila development.

scholarly journals Genetic and Biochemical Characterization of the Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyvalerate) Synthase in Haloferax mediterranei

2008 ◽  
Vol 190 (12) ◽  
pp. 4173-4180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiuhe Lu ◽  
Jing Han ◽  
Ligang Zhou ◽  
Jian Zhou ◽  
Hua Xiang
Keyword(s):  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Complete Loss ◽  
Pha Synthase ◽  
Significant Activity ◽  
Class Iii ◽  
Haloferax Mediterranei ◽  
Thermal Asymmetric Interlaced Pcr

ABSTRACT The haloarchaeon Haloferax mediterranei has shown promise for the economical production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), a desirable bioplastic. However, little is known at present about the genes involved in PHBV synthesis in the domain Archaea. In this study, we cloned the gene cluster (phaEC Hme) encoding a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase in H. mediterranei CGMCC 1.2087 via thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR. Western blotting revealed that the phaE Hme and phaC Hme genes were constitutively expressed, and both the PhaEHme and PhaCHme proteins were strongly bound to the PHBV granules. Interestingly, CGMCC 1.2087 could synthesize PHBV in either nutrient-limited medium (supplemented with 1% starch) or nutrient-rich medium, up to 24 or 18% (wt/wt) in shaking flasks. Knockout of the phaEC Hme genes in CGMCC 1.2087 led to a complete loss of PHBV synthesis, and only complementation with the phaEC Hme genes together (but not either one alone) could restore to this mutant the capability for PHBV accumulation. The known haloarchaeal PhaC subunits are much longer at their C termini than their bacterial counterparts, and the C-terminal extension of PhaCHme was proven to be indispensable for its function in vivo. Moreover, the mixture of purified PhaEHme/PhaCHme (1:1) showed significant activity of PHA synthase in vitro. Taken together, our results indicated that a novel member of the class III PHA synthases, composed of PhaCHme and PhaEHme, accounted for the PHBV synthesis in H. mediterranei.

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