Local requirement of the Drosophila insulin binding protein imp-L2 in coordinating developmental progression with nutritional conditions

In Drosophila, growth takes place during the larval stages until the formation of the pupa. Starvation delays pupariation to allow prolonged feeding, ensuring that the animal reaches an appropriate size to form a fertile adult. Pupariation is induced by a peak of the steroid hormone ecdysone produced by the prothoracic gland (PG) after larvae have reached a certain body mass. Local downregulation of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) activity in the PG interferes with ecdysone production, indicating that IIS activity in the PG couples the nutritional state to development. However, the underlying mechanism is not well understood. In this study we show that the secreted Imaginal morphogenesis protein-Late 2 (Imp-L2), a growth inhibitor in Drosophila, is involved in this process. Imp-L2 inhibits the activity of the Drosophila insulin-like peptides by direct binding and is expressed by specific cells in the brain, the ring gland, the gut and the fat body. We demonstrate that Imp-L2 is required to regulate and adapt developmental timing to nutritional conditions by regulating IIS activity in the PG. Increasing Imp-L2 expression at its endogenous sites using an Imp-L2-Gal4 driver delays pupariation, while Imp-L2 mutants exhibit a slight acceleration of development. These effects are strongly enhanced by starvation and are accompanied by massive alterations of ecdysone production resulting most likely from increased Imp-L2 production by neurons directly contacting the PG and not from elevated Imp-L2 levels in the hemolymph. Taken together our results suggest that Imp-L2-expressing neurons sense the nutritional state of Drosophila larvae and coordinate dietary information and ecdysone production to adjust developmental timing under starvation conditions.     

Tow (Target of Wingless), a novel repressor of the Hedgehog pathway in Drosophila

Hedgehog (Hh) signalling plays a crucial role in the development and patterning of many tissues in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Aberrations in this pathway lead to severe developmental defects and cancer. Hh signal transduction in receiving cells is a well studied phenomenon; however questions still remain concerning the mechanism of repression of the pathway activator Smoothened (Smo) in the absence of Hh. Here we describe a novel repressor of the Hh pathway, Target of Wingless (Tow). Tow represents the Drosophila homolog of a conserved uncharacterised protein family. We show that Tow acts in Hh receiving cells, where its overexpression represses all levels of Hh signalling, and that this repression occurs upstream or at the level of Smo and downstream of the Hh receptor Patched (Ptc). In addition, we find that like Ptc, overexpression of Tow causes an accumulation of lipophorin in the wing disc. We demonstrate that loss of tow enhances different ptc alleles in a similar manner to another pathway repressor, Suppressor of Fused (SuFu), possibly through mediating Ptc dependant lipophorin internalisation. Combined, these results demonstrate that Tow is an important novel regulator of the Hh pathway in the wing imaginal disc, and may shed light on the mechanism of Ptc repression of Smo.     

Drosophila Dachsous and Fat polarize actin-based protrusions over a restricted domain of the embryonic denticle field

Atypical cadherins Dachsous (Ds) and Fat coordinate the establishment of planar polarity, essential for the patterning of complex tissues and organs. The precise mechanisms by which this system acts, particularly in cases where Ds and Fat act independently of the ‘core’ frizzled system, are still the subject of investigation. Examining the deployment of the Ds–Fat system in different tissues of the model organism Drosophila, has provided insights into the general mechanisms by which polarity is established and propagated to coordinate outcomes across a field of cells. The Drosophila embryonic epidermis provides a simple model epithelia where the establishment of polarity can be observed from start to finish, and in the absence of proliferation, over a fixed number of cells. Using the asymmetric placement of f-actin during denticle assembly as a read-out of polarity, we examine the requirement for Ds and Fat in establishing polarity across the denticle field. Comparing detailed phenotypic analysis with steady state protein enrichment revealed a spatially restricted requirement for the Ds–Fat system within the posterior denticle field. Ectopic Ds signaling provides evidence for a model whereby Ds acts to asymmetrically enrich Fat in a neighboring cell, in turn polarizing the cell to specify the position of the actin-based protrusions at the cell cortex.     

Functional characterization of a novel plasma membrane intrinsic protein2 in barley

Water homeostasis is crucial to the growth and survival of plants. Plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) have been shown to be primary channels mediating water uptake in plant cells. We characterized a novel PIP2 gene, HvPIP2;8 in barley (Hordeum vulgare). HvPIP2;8 shared 72–76% identity with other HvPIP2s and 74% identity with rice OsPIP2;8. The gene was expressed in all organs including the shoots, roots and pistil at a similar level. When HvPIP2;8 was transiently expressed in onion epidermal cells, it was localized to the plasma membrane. HvPIP2;8 showed transport activity for water in Xenopus oocytes, however its interaction with HvPIP1;2 was not observed. These results suggest that HvPIP2;8 plays a role in water homeostasis although further functional analysis is required in future.     

Phantom,a cytochrome P450 enzyme essential for ecdysone biosynthesis,plays a critical role in the control of border cell migration in Drosophila

The border cells of Drosophila are a model system for coordinated cell migration. Ecdysone signaling has been shown to act as the timing signal to initiate the migration process. Here we find that mutations in phantom (phm), encoding an enzyme in the ecdysone biosynthesis pathway, block border cell migration when the entire follicular epithelium of an egg chamber is mutant, even when the associated germline cells (nurse cells and oocyte) are wild-type. Conversely, mutant germline cells survive and do not affect border cell migration, as long as the surrounding follicle cells are wild-type. Interestingly, even small patches of wild-type follicle cells in a mosaic epithelium are sufficient to allow the production of above-threshold levels of ecdysone to promote border cell migration. The same phenotype is observed with mutations in shade (shd), encoding the last enzyme in the pathway that converts ecdysone to the active 20-hydroxyecdysone. Administration of high 20-hydroxyecdysone titers in the medium can also rescue the border cell migration phenotype in cultured egg chambers with an entirely phm mutant follicular epithelium. These results indicate that in normal oogenesis, the follicle cell epithelium of each individual egg chamber must supply sufficient ecdysone precursors, leading ultimately to high enough levels of mature 20-hydroxyecdysone to the border cells to initiate their migration. Neither the germline, nor the neighboring egg chambers, nor the surrounding hemolymph appear to provide threshold amounts of 20-hydroxyecdysone to do so. This “egg chamber autonomous” ecdysone synthesis constitutes a useful way to regulate the individual maturation of the asynchronous egg chambers present in the Drosophila ovary.     

Drosophila vitelline membrane assembly: A critical role for an evolutionarily conserved cysteine in the “VM domain” of sV23

The vitelline membrane (VM), the oocyte proximal layer of the Drosophila eggshell, contains four major proteins (VMPs) that possess a highly conserved “VM domain” which includes three precisely spaced, evolutionarily conserved, cysteines (CX⁷CX⁸C). Focusing on sV23, this study showed that the three cysteines are not functionally equivalent. While substitution mutations at the first (C123S) or third (C140S) cysteines were tolerated, females with a substitution at the second position (C131S) were sterile. Fractionation studies showed that sV23 incorporates into a large disulfide linked network well after its secretion ceases, suggesting that post-depositional mechanisms are in place to restrict disulfide bond formation until late oogenesis, when the oocyte no longer experiences large volume increases. Affinity chromatography utilizing histidine tagged sV23 alleles revealed small sV23 disulfide linked complexes during the early stages of eggshell formation that included other VMPs, namely sV17 and Vml. The early presence but late loss of these associations in an sV23 double cysteine mutant suggests that reorganization of disulfide bonds may underlie the regulated growth of disulfide linked networks in the vitelline membrane. Found within the context of a putative thioredoxin active site (CXXS) C131, the critical cysteine in sV23, may play an important enzymatic role in isomerizing intermolecular disulfide bonds during eggshell assembly.     

The high turnover Drosophila multidrug resistance-associated protein shares the biochemical features of its human orthologues

DMRP, an ABC transporter encoded by the dMRP/CG6214 gene, is the Drosophila melanogaster orthologue of the “long” human multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRP1/ABCC1, MRP2/ABCC2, MRP3/ABCC3, MRP6/ABCC6, and MRP7/ABCC10). In order to provide a detailed biochemical characterisation we expressed DMRP in Sf9 insect cell membranes. We demonstrated DMRP as a functional orthologue of its human counterparts capable of transporting several human MRP substrates like β-estradiol 17-β-d-glucuronide, leukotriene C₄, calcein, fluo3 and carboxydichlorofluorescein. Unexpectedly, we found DMRP to exhibit an extremely high turnover rate for the substrate transport as compared to its human orthologues. Furthermore, DMRP showed remarkably high basal ATPase activity (68-75 nmol P_i/mg membrane protein/min), which could be further stimulated by probenecid and the glutathione conjugate of N-ethylmaleimide. Surprisingly, this high level basal ATPase activity was inhibited by the transported substrates. We discussed this phenomenon in the light of a potential endogenous substrate (or activator) present in the Sf9 membrane.     

Quantitative analysis of the mechanism of DNA binding by Bacillus DnaA protein

DnaA protein has the sole responsibility of initiating a new round of DNA replication in prokaryotic organisms. It recognizes the origin of DNA replication, and initiates chromosomal DNA replication in the bacterial genome. In Gram-negative Escherichia coli, a large number of DnaA molecules bind to specific DNA sequences (known as DnaA boxes) in the origin of DNA replication, oriC, leading to the activation of the origin. We have cloned, expressed, and purified full-length DnaA protein in large quantity from Gram-positive pathogen Bacillus anthracis (DnaA_BA). DnaA_BA was a highly soluble monomeric protein making it amenable to quantitative analysis of its origin recognition mechanisms. DnaA_BA bound DnaA boxes with widely divergent affinities in sequence and ATP-dependent manner. In the presence of ATP, the K_D ranged from 3.8 × 10⁻⁸ M for a specific DnaA box sequence to 4.1 × 10⁻⁷ M for a non-specific DNA sequence and decreased significantly in the presence of ADP. Thermodynamic analyses of temperature and salt dependence of DNA binding indicated that hydrophobic (entropic) and ionic bonds contributed to the DnaA_BA·DNA complex formation. DnaA_BA had a DNA-dependent ATPase activity. DNA sequences acted as positive effectors and modulated the rate (V_max) of ATP hydrolysis without any significant change in ATP binding affinity.     

The DNA binding mechanism of a SSB protein from Lactococcus lactis siphophage p2

Virulent lactococcal phages of the Siphoviridae family are responsible for the industrial milk fermentation failures worldwide. Lactococcus lactis, a Gram-positive bacterium widely used for the manufacture of fermented dairy products, is subjected to infections by virulent phages, predominantly those of the 936 group, including phage p2. Among the proteins coded by lactococcal phage genomes, of special interest are those expressed early, which are crucial to efficiently carry out the phage lytic cycle. We previously identified and solved the 3D structure of lactococcal phage p2 ORF34, a single stranded DNA binding protein (SSBp2). Here we investigated the molecular basis of ORF34 binding mechanism to DNA. DNA docking on SSBp2 and Molecular Dynamics simulations of the resulting complex identified R15 as a crucial residue for ssDNA binding. Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assays (EMSA) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) imaging revealed the inability of the Arg15Ala mutant to bind ssDNA, as compared to the native protein. Since R15 is highly conserved among lactococcal SSBs, we propose that its role in the SSBp2/DNA complex stabilization might be extended to all the members of this protein family.     

嗜水气单胞菌外膜蛋白W 基因的表达及其免疫原性分析

从患暴发性败血病的草鱼病灶处分离鉴定了嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophila)Wp3菌株。以其基因组DNA为模板扩增外膜蛋白W基因(OmpW),该基因全长为865 bp,开放式阅读框(ORF)为615 bp,与标准株ATCC7966的OmpW基因的同源性为99.8%。根据ORF序列设计引物扩增OmpW成熟肽编码序列并将其插入到表达载体pQE30中,转化大肠杆菌,经诱导可表达分子量为24.7 kD的带His标签的融合外膜蛋白His-W。用此融合蛋白免疫草鱼,所得草鱼血清经ELISA分析显示呈现阳性反应,说明重组蛋白能诱导产生抗体。采用实时荧光定量PCR分析草鱼头肾组织IgM基因表达水平的变化,结果显示免疫组IgM的表达量均明显高于空白组,其中低浓度免疫组(2μg/g)与空白对照组的差异显著(P<0.05),说明融合蛋白可使草鱼产生良好的免疫应答并上调抗体基因表达、产生高效抗体。保护性实验显示,不同免疫剂量均可使免疫组获得较高保护率(57%?86%)。结果显示,重组嗜水气单胞菌外膜蛋白W可作为草鱼嗜水气单胞菌基因工程亚单位疫苗。     

Structural and Functional Characterization of the NHR1 Domain of the Drosophila Neuralized E3 Ligase in the Notch Signaling Pathway

The Notch signaling pathway is critical for many developmental processes and requires complex trafficking of both Notch receptor and its ligands, Delta and Serrate. In Drosophila melanogaster, the endocytosis of Delta in the signal-sending cell is essential for Notch receptor activation. The Neuralized protein from D. melanogaster (Neur) is a ubiquitin E3 ligase, which binds to Delta through its first neuralized homology repeat 1 (NHR1) domain and mediates the ubiquitination of Delta for endocytosis. Tom, a Bearded protein family member, inhibits the Neur-mediated endocytosis through interactions with the NHR1 domain. We have identified the domain boundaries of the novel NHR1 domain, using a screening system based on our cell-free protein synthesis method, and demonstrated that the identified Neur NHR1 domain had binding activity to the 20-residue peptide corresponding to motif 2 of Tom by isothermal titration calorimetry experiments. We also determined the solution structure of the Neur NHR1 domain by heteronuclear NMR methods, using a ¹⁵N/¹³C-labeled sample. The Neur NHR1 domain adopts a characteristic β-sandwich fold, consisting of a concave five-stranded antiparallel β-sheet and a convex seven-stranded antiparallel β-sheet. The long loop (L6) between the β6 and β7 strands covers the hydrophobic patch on the concave β-sheet surface, and the Neur NHR1 domain forms a compact globular fold. Intriguingly, in spite of the slight, but distinct, differences in the topology of the secondary structure elements, the structure of the Neur NHR1 domain is quite similar to those of the B30.2/SPRY domains, which are known to mediate specific protein-protein interactions. Further NMR titration experiments of the Neur NHR1 domain with the 20-residue Tom peptide revealed that the resonances originating from the bottom area of the β-sandwich (the L3, L5, and L11 loops, as well as the tip of the L6 loop) were affected. In addition, a structural comparison of the Neur NHR1 domain with the first NHR domain of the human KIAA1787 protein, which is from another NHR subfamily and does not bind to the 20-residue Tom peptide, suggested the critical amino acid residues for the interactions between the Neur NHR1 domain and the Tom peptide. The present structural study will shed light on the role of the Neur NHR1 domain in the Notch signaling pathway.     

Knockdown of a putative Halloween gene Shade reveals its role in ecdysteroidogenesis in the small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus

Ecdysteroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) plays fundamental roles in insect development and reproduction, whereas the primary role of ecdysone (E) is the precursor for 20E. A cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP), encoded by a Halloween gene Shade (Shd, cyp314a1), catalyzes the conversion of E into 20E in representative insect species in Diptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera. We describe here the cloning and characterization of LsShd in a hemipteran insect species, the small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus. LsSHD has five insect conserved P450 motifs, i.e., Helix-C, Helix-I, Helix-K, PERF and heme-binding motifs. Temporal expression pattern of LsShd was determined through the fourth-instar and the early fifth-instar stages by qPCR. LsShd showed two expression peaks in day 2 and day 5 fourth-instar nymphs, and two troughs in day 1 fourth and fifth instars. Dietary introduction of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) of LsShd into nymphs successfully knocked down the target gene, decreased expression level of ecdysone receptor (LsEcR) gene, and caused nymphal lethality and delayed development. Ingestion of 20E did not increase LsShd expression level, but almost completely rescued LsEcR mRNA level, and relieved the negative effects on the survival and development in LsShd-dsRNA-exposed nymphs. In contrast, dietary introduction of E had little rescue effects. Thus, our data suggest that the ecdysteroidogenic pathway is conserved in insects, and LsSHD functions to regulate metamorphotic processes by converting E to 20E even in a hemipteran insect, L. striatellus.     

Integration of differentiation signals during indirect flight muscle formation by a novel enhancer of Drosophila vestigial gene

The gene vestigial (vg) plays a key role in indirect flight muscle (IFM) development. We show here that vg is controlled by the Notch anti-myogenic signaling pathway in myoblasts and is regulated by a novel 822 bp enhancer during IFM differentiation. Interestingly, this muscle enhancer is activated in developing fibers and in a small number of myoblasts before the fusion of myoblasts with the developing muscle fibers. Moreover, we show that this enhancer is activated by Drosophila Myocyte enhancing factor 2 (MEF2), Scalloped (SD) and VG but repressed by Twist, demonstrating a sensitivity to differentiation in vivo. In vitro experiments reveal that SD can directly bind this enhancer and MEF2 can physically interact with both SD and TWI. Cumulatively, our data reveal the interplay between different myogenic factors responsible for the expression of an enhancer activated during muscle differentiation.