Two different specific JNK activators are required to trigger apoptosis or compensatory proliferation in response to Rbf1 in Drosophila

The Jun Kinase (JNK) signaling pathway responds to diverse stimuli by appropriate and specific cellular responses such as apoptosis, differentiation or proliferation. The mechanisms that mediate this specificity remain largely unknown. The core of this signaling pathway, composed of a JNK protein and a JNK kinase (JNKK), can be activated by various putative JNKK kinases (JNKKK) which are themselves downstream of different adaptor proteins. A proposed hypothesis is that the JNK pathway specific response lies in the combination of a JNKKK and an adaptor protein upstream of the JNKK. We previously showed that the Drosophila homolog of pRb (Rbf1) and a mutant form of Rbf1 (Rbf1^D253A) have JNK-dependent pro-apoptotic properties. Rbf1^D253A is also able to induce a JNK-dependent abnormal proliferation. Here, we show that Rbf1-induced apoptosis triggers proliferation which depends on the JNK pathway activation. Taking advantage of these phenotypes, we investigated the JNK signaling involved in either Rbf1-induced apoptosis or in proliferation in response to Rbf1-induced apoptosis. We demonstrated that 2 different JNK pathways involving different adaptor proteins and kinases are involved in Rbf1-apoptosis (i.e. Rac1-dTak1-dMekk1-JNK pathway) and in proliferation in response to Rbf1-induced apoptosis (i.e., dTRAF1-Slipper-JNK pathway). Using a transient induction of rbf1, we show that Rbf1-induced apoptosis activates a compensatory proliferation mechanism which also depends on Slipper and dTRAF1. Thus, these 2 proteins seem to be key players of compensatory proliferation in Drosophila.     

The Fes/Fer non-receptor tyrosine kinase cooperates with Src42A to regulate dorsal closure in Drosophila

Fes/Fer non-receptor tyrosine kinases regulate cell adhesion and cytoskeletal reorganisation through the modification of adherens junctions. Unregulated Fes/Fer kinase activity has been shown to lead to tumours in vivo. Here, we show that Drosophila Fer localises to adherens junctions in the dorsal epidermis and regulates a major morphological event, dorsal closure. Mutations in Src42A cause defects in dorsal closure similar to those seen in dfer mutant embryos. Furthermore, Src42A mutations enhance the dfer mutant phenotype, suggesting that Src42A and DFer act in the same cellular process. We show that DFer is required for the formation of the actin cable in leading edge cells and for normal rates of dorsal closure. We have isolated a gain-of-function mutation in dfer (dfergof) that expresses an N-terminally fused form of the protein, similar to oncogenic forms of vertebrate Fer. dfergof blocks dorsal closure and causes axon misrouting. We find that in dfer loss-of-function mutants beta-catenin is hypophosphorylated, whereas in dfergof beta-catenin is hyperphosphorylated. Phosphorylated beta-catenin is removed from adherens junctions and degraded, thus implicating DFer in the regulation of adherens junctions.     

Roles of Gab1 and SHP2 in paxillin tyrosine dephosphorylation and Src activation in response to epidermal growth factor

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces paxillin tyrosine dephosphorylation and Src activation, but the signaling pathways that mediate these responses were largely undefined. We found that Gab1, a docking protein for the SHP2 protein-tyrosine phosphatase in EGF-stimulated cells, was associated with paxillin. SHP2 dephosphorylated paxillin and caused dissociation of Csk, a negative regulator of Src, from paxillin but had no effect on paxillin-Src association. A lower level of Src Tyr-530 phosphorylation was detected in paxillin-associated Src in EGF-stimulated cells. Expression of an SHP2 binding defective mutant of Gab1 (Gab1FF) or a catalytically inactive mutant of SHP2 (SHP2DN) prevented paxillin tyrosine dephosphorylation and Src activation induced by EGF. Importantly, Gab1FF blocked paxillin-SHP2 complex formation, Src Tyr-530 dephosphorylation, Erk activation, and cell migration induced by EGF. Inhibition of Src tyrosine kinase activity abrogated EGF-stimulated Erk activation and cell migration. Together, these results reveal that Gab1 recruits SHP2 to dephosphorylate paxillin, leading to dissociation of Csk from the paxillin-Src complex and Src activation and that Src is an SHP2 effector involved in EGF-stimulated Erk activation and cell migration.     

Insulators, not Polycomb response elements, are required for long-range interactions between Polycomb targets in Drosophila melanogaster

The genomic binding sites of Polycomb group (PcG) complexes have been found to cluster, forming Polycomb "bodies" or foci in mammalian or fly nuclei. These associations are thought to be driven by interactions between PcG complexes and result in enhanced repression. Here, we show that a Polycomb response element (PRE) with strong PcG binding and repressive activity cannot mediate trans interactions. In the case of the two best-studied interacting PcG targets in Drosophila, the Mcp and the Fab-7 regulatory elements, we find that these associations are not dependent on or caused by the Polycomb response elements they contain. Using functional assays and physical colocalization by in vivo fluorescence imaging or chromosome conformation capture (3C) methods, we show that the interactions between remote copies of Mcp or Fab-7 elements are dependent on the insulator activities present in these elements and not on their PREs. We conclude that insulator binding proteins rather than PcG complexes are likely to be the major determinants of the long-range higher-order organization of PcG targets in the nucleus.     

Requirements of genetic interactions between Src42A, armadillo and shotgun, a gene encoding E-cadherin, for normal development in Drosophila

Src42A is one of the two Src homologs in Drosophila. Src42A protein accumulates at sites of cell-cell or cell-matrix adhesion. Anti-Engrailed antibody staining of Src42A protein-null mutant embryos indicated that Src42A is essential for proper cell-cell matching during dorsal closure. Src42A, which is functionally redundant to Src64, was found to interact genetically with shotgun, a gene encoding E-cadherin, and armadillo, a Drosophila beta-catenin. Immunoprecipitation and a pull-down assay indicated that Src42A forms a ternary complex with E-cadherin and Armadillo, and that Src42A binds to Armadillo repeats via a 14 amino acid region, which contains the major autophosphorylation site. The leading edge of Src mutant embryos exhibiting the dorsal open phenotype was frequently kinked and associated with significant reduction in E-cadherin, Armadillo and F-actin accumulation, suggesting that not only Src signaling but also Src-dependent adherens-junction stabilization would appear likely to be essential for normal dorsal closure. Src42A and Src64 were required for Armadillo tyrosine residue phosphorylation but Src activity may not be directly involved in Armadillo tyrosine residue phosphorylation at the adherens junction.     

Src, cortactin and Arp2/3 complex are required for E-cadherin-mediated internalization of Listeria into cells

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen able to invade non-phagocytic cells. InlA, a L. monocytogenes surface protein, interacts with human E-cadherin to promote bacterial entry. L. monocytogenes internalization is a dynamic process involving co-ordinated actin cytoskeleton rearrangements and host cell membrane remodelling at the site of bacterial attachment. Interaction between E-cadherin and catenins is required to promote Listeria entry, and for the establishment of adherens junctions in epithelial cells. Although several molecular factors promoting E-cadherin-mediated Listeria internalization have been identified, the proteins regulating the transient actin polymerization required at the bacterial entry site are unknown. Here we show that the Arp2/3 complex acts as an actin nucleator during the InlA/E-cadherin-dependent internalization. Using a variety of approaches including siRNA, expression of dominant negative derivatives and pharmacological inhibitors, we demonstrate the crucial role of cortactin in the activation of the Arp2/3 complex during InlA-mediated entry. We also show the requirement of the small GTPase Rac1 and that of Src-tyrosine kinase activity to promote Listeria internalization. Together, these data suggest a model in which Src tyrosine kinase and Rac1 promote recruitment of cortactin and activation of Arp2/3 at Listeria entry site, mimicking events that occur during adherens junction formation.     

A pair of inhibitory neurons are required to sustain labile memory in the Drosophila mushroom body

Labile memory is thought to be held in the brain as persistent neural network activity. However, it is not known how biologically relevant memory circuits are organized and operate. Labile and persistent appetitive memory in Drosophila requires output after training from the α'β' subset of mushroom body (MB) neurons and from a pair of modulatory dorsal paired medial (DPM) neurons. DPM neurons innervate the entire MB lobe region and appear to be pre- and postsynaptic to the MB, consistent with a recurrent network model. Here we identify a role after training for synaptic output from the GABAergic anterior paired lateral (APL) neurons. Blocking synaptic output from APL neurons after training disrupts labile memory but does not affect long-term memory. APL neurons contact DPM neurons most densely in the α'β' lobes, although their processes are intertwined and contact throughout all of the lobes. Furthermore, APL contacts MB neurons in the α' lobe but makes little direct contact with those in the distal α lobe. We propose that APL neurons provide widespread inhibition to stabilize and maintain synaptic specificity of a labile memory trace in a recurrent DPM and MB α'β' neuron circuit.     

Sustained and transient downregulation of Src kinases in response to nerve growth factor and epidermal growth factor, respectively

Within a search for novel points of divergence in the signalling of differentiative nerve growth factor (NGF) and mitogenic epidermal growth factor (EGF) in PC12 cells, in the present study, I comparatively analysed the impact of these growth factors on the in situ activation status of Src kinases. By probing total cell extracts and anti-P-Tyr immunoprecipitates with a phosphorylation site-specific antibody targeting a conserved site of positive regulation of the overall family of Src kinases, a sustained and a transient downregulation of the immunoprecipitable subpopulation of nominally active Src kinases is detected in response to NGF and EGF, respectively. As the recovery of immunoreactive Src kinases is greater from cells being lysed while in suspension than from adherent cells, the possibility that NGF reduces the stability of Src kinases by upregulating cell adhesiveness is preliminarily explored and discussed.     

A site of tyrosine phosphorylation in the C terminus of the epidermal growth factor receptor is required to activate phospholipase C.

Cells expressing mutant epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors have been used to study mechanisms through which EGF increases phospholipase C (PLC) activity. C-terminal truncation mutant EGF receptors are markedly impaired in their ability to increase inositol phosphate formation compared with wild-type EGF receptors. Mutation of the single tyrosine self-phosphorylation site at residue 992 to phenylalanine in an EGF receptor truncated at residue 1000 abolished the ability of EGF to increase inositol phosphate formation. C-terminal deletion mutant receptors that are impaired in their ability to increase inositol phosphate formation effectively phosphorylate PLC-gamma at the same tyrosine residues as do wild-type EGF receptors. EGF enhances PLC-gamma association with wild-type EGF receptors but not with mutant receptors lacking sites of tyrosine phosphorylation. These results indicate that formation of a complex between self-phosphorylated EGF receptors and PLC-gamma is necessary for enzyme activation in vivo. We propose that both binding of PLC-gamma to activated EGF receptors and tyrosine phosphorylation of the enzyme are necessary to elicit biological responses. Kinase-active EGF receptors lacking sites of tyrosine phosphorylation are unable to signal increased inositol phosphate formation and increases in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration.     

Dystroglycan and protein O-mannosyltransferases 1 and 2 are required to maintain integrity of Drosophila larval muscles

In vertebrates, mutations in Protein O-mannosyltransferase1 (POMT1) or POMT2 are associated with muscular dystrophy due to a requirement for O-linked mannose glycans on the Dystroglycan (Dg) protein. In this study we examine larval body wall muscles of Drosophila mutant for Dg, or RNA interference knockdown for Dg and find defects in muscle attachment, altered muscle contraction, and a change in muscle membrane resistance. To determine if POMTs are required for Dg function in Drosophila, we examine larvae mutant for genes encoding POMT1 or POMT2. Larvae mutant for either POMT, or doubly mutant for both, show muscle attachment and muscle contraction phenotypes identical to those associated with reduced Dg function, consistent with a requirement for O-linked mannose on Drosophila Dg. Together these data establish a central role for Dg in maintaining integrity in Drosophila larval muscles and demonstrate the importance of glycosylation to Dg function in Drosophila. This study opens the possibility of using Drosophila to investigate muscular dystrophy.     

PIP2 hydrolysis and calcium release are required for cytokinesis in Drosophila spermatocytes

The role of calcium (Ca(2+)) in cytokinesis is controversial, and the precise pathways that lead to its release during cleavage are not well understood. Ca(2+) is released from intracellular stores by binding of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) to the IP3 receptor (IP3R), yet no clear role in cytokinesis has been established for the precursor of IP3, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). Here, using transgenic flies expressing PLCdelta-PH-GFP, which specifically binds PIP2, we identify PIP2 in the plasma membrane and cleavage furrows of dividing Drosophila melanogaster spermatocytes, and we establish that this phospholipid is required for continued ingression but not for initiation of cytokinesis. In addition, by inhibiting phospholipase C, we show that PIP2 must be hydrolyzed to maintain cleavage furrow stability. Using an IP3R antagonist and a Ca(2+) chelator to examine the roles of IP3R and Ca(2+) in cytokinesis, we demonstrate that both of these factors are required for cleavage furrow stability, although Ca(2+) is dispensable for cleavage plane specification and initiation of furrowing. Strikingly, providing cells with Ca(2+) obviates the need to hydrolyze PIP2. Thus, PIP2, PIP2 hydrolysis, and Ca(2+) are required for the normal progression of cytokinesis in these cells.     

Nrg1 and nrg2 transcriptional repressors are differently regulated in response to carbon source

The Nrg1 and Nrg2 repressors of Saccharomyces cerevisiae have highly similar zinc fingers and closely related functions in the regulation of glucose-repressed genes. We show that NRG1 and NRG2 are differently regulated in response to carbon source at both the RNA and protein levels. Expression of NRG1 RNA is glucose repressed, whereas NRG2 RNA levels are nearly constant. Nrg1 protein levels are elevated in response to glucose limitation or growth in nonfermentable carbon sources, whereas Nrg2 levels are diminished. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that Nrg1 and Nrg2 bind DNA both in the presence and absence of glucose. In mutant cells lacking the corepressor Ssn6(Cyc8)-Tup1, promoter-bound Nrg1, but not Nrg2, functions as an activator in a reporter assay, providing evidence that the two Nrg proteins have distinct properties. We suggest that the differences in expression and function of these two repressors, in combination with their similar DNA-binding domains, contribute to the complex regulation of the large set of glucose-repressed genes.     

Drosophila Bcl-2 proteins participate in stress-induced apoptosis, but are not required for normal development

Many developing tissues require programmed cell death (PCD) for proper formation. In mice and C. elegans, developmental PCD is regulated by the Bcl-2 family of proteins. Two bcl-2 genes are encoded in the Drosophila genome (debcl/dBorg1/Drob-1/dBok and buffy/dBorg2) and previous RNAi-based studies suggested a requirement for these in embryonic development. However, we report here that, despite the fact that many tissues in fruit flies are shaped by PCD, deletion of the bcl-2 genes does not perturb normal development. We investigated whether the fly bcl-2 genes regulate non-apoptotic processes that require caspases, but found these to be bcl-2 gene-independent. However, irradiation of the mutants demonstrates that DNA damage-induced apoptosis, mediated by Reaper, is blocked by buffy and that debcl is required to inhibit buffy. Our results demonstrate that developmental PCD regulation in the fly does not rely upon the Bcl-2 proteins, but that they provide an added layer of protection in the apoptotic response to stress.     

Src42A modulates tumor invasion and cell death via Ben/dUev1a-mediated JNK activation in Drosophila

Loss of the cell polarity gene could cooperate with oncogenic Ras to drive tumor growth and invasion, which critically depends on the c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) signaling pathway in Drosophila. By performing a genetic screen, we have identified Src42A, the ortholog of mammalian Src, as a key modulator of both Ras^V12/lgl^−/− triggered tumor invasion and loss of cell polarity gene-induced cell migration. Our genetic study further demonstrated that the Bendless (Ben)/dUev1a ubiquitin E2 complex is an essential regulator of Src42A-induced, JNK-mediated cell migration. Furthermore, we showed that ectopic Ben/dUev1a expression induced invasive cell migration along with increased MMP1 production in wing disc epithelia. Moreover, Ben/dUev1a could cooperate with Ras^V12 to promote tumor overgrowth and invasion. In addition, we found that the Ben/dUev1a complex is required for ectopic Src42A-triggered cell death and endogenous Src42A-dependent thorax closure. Our data not only provide a mechanistic insight into the role of Src in development and disease but also propose a potential oncogenic function for Ubc13 and Uev1a, the mammalian homologs of Ben and dUev1a.