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Velentzas AD, Velentzas PD, Katarachia SA, Anagnostopoulos AK, Sagioglou NE, Thanou EV, Tsioka MM, Mpakou VE, Kollia Z, Gavriil VE, Papassideri IS, Tsangaris GT, Cefalas AC, Sarantopoulou E, Stravopodis DJ. The indispensable contribution of s38 protein to ovarian-eggshell morphogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16103. [PMID: 30382186 PMCID: PMC6208399 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34532-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila chorion represents a remarkable model system for the in vivo study of complex extracellular-matrix architectures. For its organization and structure, s38 protein is considered as a component of major importance, since it is synthesized and secreted during early choriogenesis. However, there is no evidence that proves its essential, or redundant, role in chorion biogenesis. Hence, we show that targeted downregulation of s38 protein, specifically in the ovarian follicle-cell compartment, via employment of an RNAi-mediated strategy, causes generation of diverse dysmorphic phenotypes, regarding eggshell’s regionally and radially specialized structures. Downregulation of s38 protein severely impairs fly’s fertility and is unable to be compensated by the s36 homologous family member, thus unveiling s38 protein’s essential contribution to chorion’s assembly and function. Altogether, s38 acts as a key skeletal protein being critically implicated in the patterning establishment of a highly structured tripartite endochorion. Furthermore, it seems that s38 loss may sensitize choriogenesis to stochastic variation in its coordination and timing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanassios D Velentzas
- Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis D Velentzas
- Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece.,Department of Cancer Biology, Medical School, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, Massachusetts (MA), USA
| | - Stamatia A Katarachia
- Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece
| | | | - Niki E Sagioglou
- Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni V Thanou
- Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece
| | - Maria M Tsioka
- Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece
| | - Vassiliki E Mpakou
- Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece
| | - Zoe Kollia
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF), Athens, Greece
| | - Vassilios E Gavriil
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF), Athens, Greece
| | - Issidora S Papassideri
- Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece
| | - George Th Tsangaris
- Systems Biology Center, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), Athens, Greece
| | | | - Evangelia Sarantopoulou
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF), Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios J Stravopodis
- Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece.
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