Function of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila mob2</Emphasis> in photoreceptor morphogenesis |
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Authors: | Ling-Yu Liu Cheng-Han Lin Seng-Sheen Fan |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, No. 181, Sec. 3, Taichung-Kan Road, Taichung, 407, Taiwan, Republic of China; |
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Abstract: | The Drosophila photoreceptor is a highly polarized cell; a mature photoreceptor cell in Drosophila contains a photosensitive structure (the rhabdomere) and a supporting membrane (stalk) at its apical membrane. In a screen
to isolate genes involved in determining stalk and rhabdomere formation, this study has identified the Drosophila mob2 (Dmob2) gene. Dmob2 belongs to a Mob1/phocein domain protein family whose functions are involved in polarized cell growth and asymmetric
cell fate determination in yeast. To study the role of Dmob2 in photoreceptor development, we have raised an antibody against
the Dmob2 protein. An immunocytochemical study has shown that Dmob2 is mainly localized in the apical membrane of photoreceptor
cells during early development. As development proceeds, Dmob2 is gradually confined to the rhabdomere base of the photoreceptor
cells. RNA interference (RNAi) for knockdown Dmob2 expression during eye development impairs rhabdomere formation. Our study
further shows that the subcellular localization of phosphorylated Moesin and Crumbs in the developing photoreceptor cell is
disrupted in Dmob2 RNAi flies. This work thus reports a novel function of Dmob2 in photoreceptor cell development. |
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