Drosophila singed, a fascin homolog, is required for actin bundle formation during oogenesis and bristle extension

Basal actomyosin pulses expand epithelium coordinating cell flattening and tissue elongation

Actomyosin networks constrict cell area and junctions to alter cell and tissue shape. However, during cell expansion under mechanical stress, actomyosin networks are strengthened and polarized to relax stress. Thus, cells face a conflicting situation between the enhanced actomyosin contractile properties and the expansion behaviour of the cell or tissue. To address this paradoxical situation, we study late Drosophila oogenesis and reveal an unusual epithelial expansion wave behaviour. Mechanistically, Rac1 and Rho1 integrate basal pulsatile actomyosin networks with ruffles and focal adhesions to increase and then stabilize basal area of epithelial cells allowing their flattening and elongation. This epithelial expansion behaviour bridges cell changes to oocyte growth and extension, while oocyte growth in turn deforms the epithelium to drive cell spreading. Basal pulsatile actomyosin networks exhibit non-contractile mechanics, non-linear structures and F-actin/Myosin-II spatiotemporal signal separation, implicating unreported expanding properties. Biophysical modelling incorporating these expanding properties well simulates epithelial cell expansion waves. Our work thus highlights actomyosin expanding properties as a key mechanism driving tissue morphogenesis.

Specific prostaglandins are produced in the migratory cells and the surrounding substrate to promote Drosophila border cell migration

Introduction: A key regulator of collective cell migration is prostaglandin (PG) signaling. However, it remains largely unclear whether PGs act within the migratory cells or their microenvironment to promote migration. Here we use Drosophila border cell migration as a model to uncover the cell-specific roles of two PGs in collective migration. The border cells undergo a collective and invasive migration between the nurse cells; thus, the nurse cells are the substrate and microenvironment for the border cells. Prior work found PG signaling is required for on-time border cell migration and cluster cohesion. Methods: Confocal microscopy and quantitative image analyses of available mutant alleles and RNAi lines were used to define the roles of the PGE2 and PGF2α synthases in border cell migration. Results: We find that the PGE2 synthase cPGES is required in the substrate, while the PGF2α synthase Akr1B is required in the border cells for on-time migration. Akr1B acts in both the border cells and their substrate to regulate cluster cohesion. One means by which Akr1B may regulate border cell migration and/or cluster cohesion is by promoting integrin-based adhesions. Additionally, Akr1B limits myosin activity, and thereby cellular stiffness, in the border cells, whereas cPGES limits myosin activity in both the border cells and their substrate. Decreasing myosin activity overcomes the migration delays in both akr1B and cPGES mutants, indicating the changes in cellular stiffness contribute to the migration defects. Discussion: Together these data reveal that two PGs, PGE2 and PGF2α, produced in different locations, play key roles in promoting border cell migration. These PGs likely have similar migratory versus microenvironment roles in other collective cell migrations.

Finishing the egg

Gamete development is a fundamental process that is highly conserved from early eukaryotes to mammals. As germ cells develop, they must coordinate a dynamic series of cellular processes that support growth, cell specification, patterning, the loading of maternal factors (RNAs, proteins, and nutrients), differentiation of structures to enable fertilization and ensure embryonic survival, and other processes that make a functional oocyte. To achieve these goals, germ cells integrate a complex milieu of environmental and developmental signals to produce fertilizable eggs. Over the past 50 years, Drosophila oogenesis has risen to the forefront as a system to interrogate the sophisticated mechanisms that drive oocyte development. Studies in Drosophila have defined mechanisms in germ cells that control meiosis, protect genome integrity, facilitate mRNA trafficking, and support the maternal loading of nutrients. Work in this system has provided key insights into the mechanisms that establish egg chamber polarity and patterning as well as the mechanisms that drive ovulation and egg activation. Using the power of Drosophila genetics, the field has begun to define the molecular mechanisms that coordinate environmental stresses and nutrient availability with oocyte development. Importantly, the majority of these reproductive mechanisms are highly conserved throughout evolution, and many play critical roles in the development of somatic tissues as well. In this chapter, we summarize the recent progress in several key areas that impact egg chamber development and ovulation. First, we discuss the mechanisms that drive nutrient storage and trafficking during oocyte maturation and vitellogenesis. Second, we examine the processes that regulate follicle cell patterning and how that patterning impacts the construction of the egg shell and the establishment of embryonic polarity. Finally, we examine regulatory factors that control ovulation, egg activation, and successful fertilization.

Specific prostaglandins are produced in the migratory cells and the surrounding substrate to promote Drosophila border cell migration

A key regulator of collective cell migration is prostaglandin (PG) signaling. However, it remains largely unclear whether PGs act within the migratory cells or their microenvironment to promote migration. Here we use Drosophila border cell migration as a model to uncover the cell-specific roles of two PGs in collective migration. Prior work shows PG signaling is required for on-time migration and cluster cohesion. We find that the PGE2 synthase cPGES is required in the substrate, while the PGF2α synthase Akr1B is required in the border cells for on-time migration. Akr1B acts in both the border cells and their substrate to regulate cluster cohesion. One means by which Akr1B regulates border cell migration is by promoting integrin-based adhesions. Additionally, Akr1B limits myosin activity, and thereby cellular stiffness, in the border cells, whereas cPGES limits myosin activity in both the border cells and their substrate. Together these data reveal that two PGs, PGE2 and PGF2α, produced in different locations, play key roles in promoting border cell migration. These PGs likely have similar migratory versus microenvironment roles in other collective cell migrations.

Dusky-like Is Critical for Morphogenesis of the Cellular Protuberances and Formation of the Cuticle in Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata

Dusky-like (Dyl) is a transmembrane protein containing a zona pellucida domain. Its physiological roles during metamorphosis have been well explored in Drosophila melanogaster and have also been documented in Tribolium castaneum. However, Dyl has undergone a functional shift between Diptera and Coleoptera insects. Further investigation of Dyl in other insects will be helpful to further clarify its function in insect growth and development. Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata is an important Coleoptera that causes enormous economic losses in agriculture in China. In this study, we found that the expression of Hvdyl was detectable in embryos, larvae, prepupae, pupae, and adults. We knocked down Hvdyl in third- and fourth-instar larvae and pupae with RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi of Hvdyl mainly caused two phenotypic defects. Firstly, the growth of epidermal cellular protuberances was suppressed. Injection of dsdyl (double-stranded dusky-like RNA) at the third-instar larval stage truncated the scoli throughout the thorax and abdomen and shortened the setae on the head capsules and mouthparts of the fourth-instar larvae. Introduction of dsdyl at the third- and fourth-instar stages led to misshapen pupal setae. The setae were shortened or became black nodules. Treatment with dsdyl at the larval and pupal stages resulted in deformed adults with completely suppressed wing hairs. Moreover, the knockdown of Hvdyl at the third-instar stage caused deformed larval mouthparts at the fourth-instar period. As a result, foliage consumption was inhibited, and larval growth was slowed. The results indicate that Dyl is associated with the growth of cellular protuberances throughout development and with the formation of the cuticle in H. vigintioctopunctata.

Bitesize bundles F-actin and influences actin remodeling in syncytial Drosophila embryo development

Actin networks undergo rearrangements that influence cell and tissue shape. Actin network assembly and organization is regulated in space and time by a host of actin binding proteins. The Drosophila Synaptotagmin-like protein, Bitesize (Btsz), is known to organize actin at epithelial cell apical junctions in a manner that depends on its interaction with the actin-binding protein, Moesin. Here, we showed that Btsz functions in actin reorganization at earlier, syncytial stages of Drosophila embryo development. Btsz was required for the formation of stable metaphase pseudocleavage furrows that prevented spindle collisions and nuclear fallout prior to cellularization. While previous studies focused on Btsz isoforms containing the Moesin Binding Domain (MBD), we found that isoforms lacking the MBD also function in actin remodeling. Consistent with this, we found that the C-terminal half of BtszB cooperatively binds to and bundles F-actin, suggesting a direct mechanism for Synaptotagmin-like proteins regulating actin organization during animal development.

Actin Bundles Dynamics and Architecture

Cells use the actin cytoskeleton for many of their functions, including their division, adhesion, mechanosensing, endo- and phagocytosis, migration, and invasion. Actin bundles are the main constituent of actin-rich structures involved in these processes. An ever-increasing number of proteins that crosslink actin into bundles or regulate their morphology is being identified in cells. With recent advances in high-resolution microscopy and imaging techniques, the complex process of bundles formation and the multiple forms of physiological bundles are beginning to be better understood. Here, we review the physiochemical and biological properties of four families of highly conserved and abundant actin-bundling proteins, namely, α-actinin, fimbrin/plastin, fascin, and espin. We describe the similarities and differences between these proteins, their role in the formation of physiological actin bundles, and their properties-both related and unrelated to their bundling abilities. We also review some aspects of the general mechanism of actin bundles formation, which are known from the available information on the activity of the key actin partners involved in this process.

The Vast Utility of Drosophila Oogenesis

In this chapter, we highlight examples of the diverse array of developmental, cellular, and biochemical insights that can be gained by using Drosophila melanogaster oogenesis as a model tissue. We begin with an overview of ovary development and adult oogenesis. Then we summarize how the adult Drosophila ovary continues to advance our understanding of stem cells, cell cycle, cell migration, cytoplasmic streaming, nurse cell dumping, and cell death. We also review emerging areas of study, including the roles of lipid droplets, ribosomes, and nuclear actin in egg development. Finally, we conclude by discussing the growing conservation of processes and signaling pathways that regulate oogenesis and female reproduction from flies to humans.

Ultra-Morphology and Mechanical Function of the Trichoideum Sensillum in Nabis rugosus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta: Heteroptera: Cimicomorpha)

The present study aims to investigate the morphological features of the antennal sensilla by using SEM and TEM. The construction of a 3D model of trichoideum sensillum using Amira software is presented in this paper. Five sensillum types, namely trichoideum, chaeticum, campaniformium, coeloconicum, and basiconicum, were recorded. This model exhibits the mechanosensillum components, including the embedded hair in a socket attached by the joint membrane and the dendrite connected to the hair base passing through the cuticle layers. TEM images present the dendrite way, micro-tubules inside the dendritic sheath, and terminal structure of the tubular dendrite body and so-called companion cells included in the receptor, e.g., tormogen and trichogen. The parameters noted for the external structure and ultrastructure of the mechano-receptor indicate that they are specific to a particular type of sensillum and would be useful in developing the model for a biosensor. Results show that bio-inspired sensors can be developed based on morphological and ultrastructural studies and to conduct mechanical studies on their components.

A Diaphanous and Enabled-dependent asymmetric actin cable array repositions nuclei during Drosophila oogenesis

Cells reposition their nuclei for diverse specialized functions through a wide variety of cytoskeletal mechanisms. During Drosophila oogenesis, 15 nurse cells connected by ring canals to each other and the oocyte contract, ‘dumping’ their cytoplasm into the oocyte. Prior to dumping, actin cables initiate from the nurse cell cortex and elongate toward their nuclei, pushing them away from ring canals to prevent obstruction. How the cable arrays reposition nuclei is unknown. We found that these arrays are asymmetric, with regional differences in actin cable growth rate dependent on the differential localization of the actin assembly factors Enabled and Diaphanous. Enabled mislocalization produces a uniform growth rate. In oocyte-contacting nurse cells with asymmetric cable arrays, nuclei move away from ring canals. With uniform arrays, these nuclei move toward the adjacent ring canal instead. This correlated with ring canal nuclear blockage and incomplete dumping. Our data suggest that nuclear repositioning relies on the regulated cortical localization of Diaphanous and Enabled to produce actin cable arrays with asymmetric growth that push nuclei away from ring canals, enabling successful oogenesis.

Scale-type-specific requirement for the mosquito Aedes aegypti Spindle-F homologue by regulating microtubule organization

Insect epithelial cells contain unique cellular extensions such as bristles, hairs, and scales. In contrast to bristle and hair, which are not divergent in their shape, scale morphology shows high diversity. In our attempt to characterize the role of the insect-specific gene, Spindle-F (spn-F), in mosquito development, we revealed a scale-type specific requirement for the mosquito Aedes aegypti spn-F homologue. Using CRISPR-Cas9, we generated Ae-spn-F mutants and found that Ae-spn-F is an essential gene, but we were able to recover a few adult escapers. These escapers could not fly nor move, and died after 3 to 4 days. We found that in Ae-spn-F mutants, only the tip part of the bristle was affected with bulbous with misoriented ribs. We also show that in Ae-spn-F mutants, only in falcate scales, which are curved with a sharp or narrowly rounded apex, and not in other scale types, the tip region is strongly affected. Our analysis also revealed that in contrast to Drosophila spn-F, which show strong defects in both the actin and microtubule (MT) network in the bristle, the Ae-spn-F gene is required only for MT organization in scales and bristles. In summary, our results reveal that Ae-spn-F is required for shaping tapered epithelial cellular extension structures, namely, the bristle and falcate scales by affecting MT organization.

The Chlamydia trachomatis Early Effector Tarp Outcompetes Fascin in Forming F-Actin Bundles In Vivo

The intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis secretes multiple early effectors into the host cell to promote invasion. A key early effector during host cell entry, Tarp (translocated actin-recruiting phosphoprotein) is comprised of multiple protein domains known to have roles in cell signaling, G-actin nucleation and F-actin bundle formation. In vitro, the actin bundles generated by Tarp are uncharacteristically flexible, however, in vivo, the biological significance of Tarp-mediated actin bundles remains unknown. We hypothesize that Tarp's ability to generate unique actin bundles, in part, facilitates chlamydial entry into epithelial cells. To study the in vivo interaction between Tarp and F-actin, we transgenically expressed Tarp in Drosophila melanogaster tissues. Tarp expressed in Drosophila is phosphorylated and forms F-actin-enriched aggregates in tissues. To gain insight into the significance of Tarp actin bundles in vivo, we utilized the well-characterized model system of mechanosensory bristle development in Drosophila melanogaster. Tarp expression in wild type flies produced curved bristles, indicating a perturbation in F-actin dynamics during bristle development. Two F-actin bundlers, Singed/Fascin and Forked/Espin, are important for normal bristle shape. Surprisingly, Tarp expression in the bristles displaced Singed/Fascin away from F-actin bundles. Tarp's competitive behavior against Fascin during F-actin bundling was confirmed in vitro. Loss of either singed or forked in flies leads to highly deformed bristles. Strikingly, Tarp partially rescued the loss of singed, reducing the severity of the bristle morphology defect. This work provides in vivo confirmation of Tarp's F-actin bundling activity and further uncovers a competitive behavior against the host bundler Singed/Fascin during bundle assembly. Also, we demonstrate the utility of Drosophila melanogaster as an in vivo cell biological platform to study bacterial effector function.

Fascin limits Myosin activity within Drosophila border cells to control substrate stiffness and promote migration

A key regulator of collective cell migrations, which drive development and cancer metastasis, is substrate stiffness. Increased substrate stiffness promotes migration and is controlled by Myosin. Using Drosophila border cell migration as a model of collective cell migration, we identify, for the first time, that the actin bundling protein Fascin limits Myosin activity in vivo. Loss of Fascin results in: increased activated Myosin on the border cells and their substrate, the nurse cells; decreased border cell Myosin dynamics; and increased nurse cell stiffness as measured by atomic force microscopy. Reducing Myosin restores on-time border cell migration in fascin mutant follicles. Further, Fascin’s actin bundling activity is required to limit Myosin activation. Surprisingly, we find that Fascin regulates Myosin activity in the border cells to control nurse cell stiffness to promote migration. Thus, these data shift the paradigm from a substrate stiffness-centric model of regulating migration, to uncover that collectively migrating cells play a critical role in controlling the mechanical properties of their substrate in order to promote their own migration. This understudied means of mechanical regulation of migration is likely conserved across contexts and organisms, as Fascin and Myosin are common regulators of cell migration.

Gonadal transcriptomes associated with sex phenotypes provide potential male and female candidate genes of sex determination or early differentiation in Crassostrea gigas, a sequential hermaphrodite mollusc

Background

In the animal kingdom, mollusca is an important phylum of the Lophotrochozoa. However, few studies have investigated the molecular cascade of sex determination/early gonadal differentiation within this phylum. The oyster Crassostrea gigas is a sequential irregular hermaphrodite mollusc of economic, physiological and phylogenetic importance. Although some studies identified genes of its sex-determining/−differentiating pathway, this particular topic remains to be further deepened, in particular with regard to the expression patterns. Indeed, these patterns need to cover the entire period of sex lability and have to be associated to future sex phenotypes, usually impossible to establish in this sequential hermaphrodite. This is why we performed a gonadal RNA-Seq analysis of diploid male and female oysters that have not changed sex for 4 years, sampled during the entire time-window of sex determination/early sex differentiation (stages 0 and 3 of the gametogenetic cycle). This individual long-term monitoring gave us the opportunity to explain the molecular expression patterns in the light of the most statistically likely future sex of each oyster.

Results

The differential gene expression analysis of gonadal transcriptomes revealed that 9723 genes were differentially expressed between gametogenetic stages, and 141 between sexes (98 and 43 genes highly expressed in females and males, respectively). Eighty-four genes were both stage- and sex-specific, 57 of them being highly expressed at the time of sex determination/early sex differentiation. These 4 novel genes including Trophoblast glycoprotein-like, Protein PML-like, Protein singed-like and PREDICTED: paramyosin, while being supported by RT-qPCR, displayed sexually dimorphic gene expression patterns.

Conclusions

This gonadal transcriptome analysis, the first one associated with sex phenotypes in C. gigas, revealed 57 genes highly expressed in stage 0 or 3 of gametogenesis and which could be linked to the future sex of the individuals. While further study will be needed to suggest a role for these factors, some could certainly be original potential actors involved in sex determination/early sex differentiation, like paramyosin and could be used to predict the future sex of oysters.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07838-1.

Relish plays a dynamic role in the niche to modulate Drosophila blood progenitor homeostasis in development and infection

Immune challenges demand the gearing up of basal hematopoiesis to combat infection. Little is known about how during development, this switch is achieved to take care of the insult. Here, we show that the hematopoietic niche of the larval lymph gland of Drosophila senses immune challenge and reacts to it quickly through the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), Relish, a component of the immune deficiency (Imd) pathway. During development, Relish is triggered by ecdysone signaling in the hematopoietic niche to maintain the blood progenitors. Loss of Relish causes an alteration in the cytoskeletal architecture of the niche cells in a Jun Kinase-dependent manner, resulting in the trapping of Hh implicated in progenitor maintenance. Notably, during infection, downregulation of Relish in the niche tilts the maintenance program toward precocious differentiation, thereby bolstering the cellular arm of the immune response.

An RNAi screen of the kinome in epithelial follicle cells of the Drosophila melanogaster ovary reveals genes required for proper germline death and clearance

Programmed cell death and cell corpse clearance are an essential part of organismal health and development. Cell corpses are often cleared away by professional phagocytes such as macrophages. However, in certain tissues, neighboring cells known as nonprofessional phagocytes can also carry out clearance functions. Here, we use the Drosophila melanogaster ovary to identify novel genes required for clearance by nonprofessional phagocytes. In the Drosophila ovary, germline cells can die at multiple time points. As death proceeds, the epithelial follicle cells act as phagocytes to facilitate the clearance of these cells. We performed an unbiased kinase screen to identify novel proteins and pathways involved in cell clearance during two death events. Of 224 genes examined, 18 demonstrated severe phenotypes during developmental death and clearance while 12 demonstrated severe phenotypes during starvation-induced cell death and clearance, representing a number of pathways not previously implicated in phagocytosis. Interestingly, it was found that several genes not only affected the clearance process in the phagocytes, but also non-autonomously affected the process by which germline cells died. This kinase screen has revealed new avenues for further exploration and investigation.

Gatekeeper function for Short stop at the ring canals of the Drosophila ovary

Growth of the Drosophila oocyte requires transport of cytoplasmic materials from the interconnected sister cells (nurse cells) through ring canals, the cytoplasmic bridges that remained open after incomplete germ cell division. Given the open nature of the ring canals, it is unclear how the direction of transport through the ring canal is controlled. In this work, we show that a single Drosophila spectraplakin Short stop (Shot) controls the direction of flow from nurse cells to the oocyte. Knockdown of shot changes the direction of transport through the ring canals from unidirectional (toward the oocyte) to bidirectional. After shot knockdown, the oocyte stops growing, resulting in a characteristic small oocyte phenotype. In agreement with this transport-directing function of Shot, we find that it is localized at the asymmetric actin baskets on the nurse cell side of the ring canals. In wild-type egg chambers, microtubules localized in the ring canals have uniform polarity (minus ends toward the oocyte), while in the absence of Shot, these microtubules have mixed polarity. Together, we propose that Shot functions as a gatekeeper directing transport from nurse cells to the oocyte via the organization of microtubule tracks to facilitate the transport driven by the minus-end-directed microtubule motor cytoplasmic dynein. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

Recapitulating Actin Module Organization in the Drosophila Oocyte Reveals New Roles for Bristle-Actin-Modulating Proteins

The generation of F-actin bundles is controlled by the action of actin-binding proteins. In Drosophila bristle development, two major actin-bundling proteins—Forked and Fascin—were identified, but still the molecular mechanism by which these actin-bundling proteins and other proteins generate bristle actin bundles is unknown. In this study, we developed a technique that allows recapitulation of bristle actin module organization using the Drosophila ovary by a combination of confocal microscopy, super-resolution structured illumination microscopy, and correlative light and electron microscope analysis. Since Forked generated a distinct ectopic network of actin bundles in the oocyte, the additive effect of two other actin-associated proteins, namely, Fascin and Javelin (Jv), was studied. We found that co-expression of Fascin and Forked demonstrated that the number of actin filaments within the actin bundles dramatically increased, and in their geometric organization, they resembled bristle-like actin bundles. On the other hand, co-expression of Jv with Forked increased the length and density of the actin bundles. When all three proteins co-expressed, the actin bundles were longer and denser, and contained a high number of actin filaments in the bundle. Thus, our results demonstrate that the Drosophila oocyte could serve as a test tube for actin bundle analysis.

Fascin in Cell Migration: More Than an Actin Bundling Protein

Simple Summary

Cell migration is an essential biological process that regulates both development and diseases, such as cancer metastasis. Therefore, understanding the factors that promote cell migration is crucial. One of the factors known to regulate cell migration is the actin-binding protein, Fascin. Fascin is typically thought to promote cell migration through bundling actin to form migratory structures such as filopodia and invadapodia. However, Fascin has many other functions in the cell that may contribute to cell migration. How these novel functions promote cell migration and are regulated is still not well understood. Here, we review the structure of Fascin, the many functions of Fascin and how they may promote cell migration, how Fascin is regulated, and Fascin’s role in diseases such as cancer metastasis.

Abstract

Fascin, an actin-binding protein, regulates many developmental migrations and contributes to cancer metastasis. Specifically, Fascin promotes cell motility, invasion, and adhesion by forming filopodia and invadopodia through its canonical actin bundling function. In addition to bundling actin, Fascin has non-canonical roles in the cell that are thought to promote cell migration. These non-canonical functions include regulating the activity of other actin-binding proteins, binding to and regulating microtubules, mediating mechanotransduction to the nucleus via interaction with the Linker of the Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) Complex, and localizing to the nucleus to regulate nuclear actin, the nucleolus, and chromatin modifications. The many functions of Fascin must be coordinately regulated to control cell migration. While much remains to be learned about such mechanisms, Fascin is regulated by post-translational modifications, prostaglandin signaling, protein–protein interactions, and transcriptional means. Here, we review the structure of Fascin, the various functions of Fascin and how they contribute to cell migration, the mechanisms regulating Fascin, and how Fascin contributes to diseases, specifically cancer metastasis.

HtsRC-Mediated Accumulation of F-Actin Regulates Ring Canal Size During Drosophila melanogaster Oogenesis

Ring canals in the female germline of Drosophila melanogaster are supported by a robust filamentous actin (F-actin) cytoskeleton, setting them apart from ring canals in other species and tissues. Previous work has identified components required for the expansion of the ring canal actin cytoskeleton, but has not identified the proteins responsible for F-actin recruitment or accumulation. Using a combination of CRISPR-Cas9 mediated mutagenesis and UAS-Gal4 overexpression, we show that HtsRC-a component specific to female germline ring canals-is both necessary and sufficient to drive F-actin accumulation. Absence of HtsRC in the germline resulted in ring canals lacking inner rim F-actin, while overexpression of HtsRC led to larger ring canals. HtsRC functions in combination with Filamin to recruit F-actin to ectopic actin structures in somatic follicle cells. Finally, we present findings that indicate that HtsRC expression and robust female germline ring canal expansion are important for high fecundity in fruit flies but dispensable for their fertility-a result that is consistent with our understanding of HtsRC as a newly evolved gene specific to female germline ring canals.

Prostaglandins regulate invasive, collective border cell migration

While prostaglandins (PGs), short-range lipid signals, regulate single cell migration, their roles in collective migration remain unclear. To address this, we use Drosophila border cell migration, an invasive, collective migration that occurs during Stage 9 of oogenesis. Pxt is the Drosophila cyclooxygenase-like enzyme responsible for PG synthesis. Loss of Pxt results in both delayed border cell migration and elongated clusters, whereas somatic Pxt knockdown causes delayed migration and compacted clusters. These findings suggest PGs act in both the border cells and nurse cells, the substrate on which the border cells migrate. As PGs regulate the actin bundler Fascin, and Fascin is required for on-time migration, we assessed whether PGs regulate Fascin to promote border cell migration. Coreduction of Pxt and Fascin results in delayed migration and elongated clusters. The latter may be due to altered cell adhesion, as loss of Pxt or Fascin, or coreduction of both, decreases integrin levels on the border cell membranes. Conversely, integrin localization is unaffected by somatic knockdown of Pxt. Together these data lead to the model that PG signaling controls Fascin in the border cells to promote migration and in the nurse cells to maintain cluster cohesion.

Fascin regulates protrusions and delamination to mediate invasive, collective cell migration in vivo

BACKGROUND

The actin bundling protein Fascin is essential for developmental cell migrations and promotes cancer metastasis. In addition to bundling actin, Fascin has several actin-independent roles; how these other functions contribute to cell migration remains unclear. Border cell migration during Drosophila oogenesis provides an excellent model to study Fascin's various roles during invasive, collective cell migration.

RESULTS

On-time border cell migration during Stage 9 requires Fascin (Drosophila Singed). Fascin functions not only within the migrating border cells, but also within the nurse cells, the substrate for this migration. Fascin genetically interacts with the actin elongation factor Enabled to promote on-time Stage 9 migration and overexpression of Enabled suppresses the defects seen with loss of Fascin. Loss of Fascin results in increased, shorter and mislocalized protrusions during migration. Additionally, loss of Fascin inhibits border cell delamination and increases E-Cadherin (Drosophila Shotgun) adhesions on both the border cells and nurse cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, Fascin promotes on-time border cell migration during Stage 9 and contributes to multiple aspects of this invasive, collective cell migration, including both protrusion dynamics and delamination. These findings have implications beyond Drosophila, as border cell migration has emerged as a model to study mechanisms mediating cancer metastasis.

Pharmaco-Genetic Screen To Uncover Actin Regulators Targeted by Prostaglandins During Drosophila Oogenesis

Prostaglandins (PGs) are lipid signaling molecules with numerous physiologic functions, including pain/inflammation, fertility, and cancer. PGs are produced downstream of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, the targets of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In numerous systems, PGs regulate actin cytoskeletal remodeling, however, their mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. To address this deficiency, we undertook a pharmaco-genetic interaction screen during late-stage Drosophila oogenesis. Drosophila oogenesis is as an established model for studying both actin dynamics and PGs. Indeed, during Stage 10B, cage-like arrays of actin bundles surround each nurse cell nucleus, and during Stage 11, the cortical actin contracts, squeezing the cytoplasmic contents into the oocyte. Both of these cytoskeletal properties are required for follicle development and fertility, and are regulated by PGs. Here we describe a pharmaco-genetic interaction screen that takes advantage of the fact that Stage 10B follicles will mature in culture and COX inhibitors, such as aspirin, block this in vitro follicle maturation. In the screen, aspirin was used at a concentration that blocks 50% of the wild-type follicles from maturing in culture. By combining this aspirin treatment with heterozygosity for mutations in actin regulators, we quantitatively identified enhancers and suppressors of COX inhibition. Here we present the screen results and initial follow-up studies on three strong enhancers – Enabled, Capping protein, and non-muscle Myosin II Regulatory Light Chain. Overall, these studies provide new insight into how PGs regulate both actin bundle formation and cellular contraction, properties that are not only essential for development, but are misregulated in disease.

Investigation of the protein profile of silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupae reared on a well-calibrated artificial diet compared to mulberry leaf diet

Background

Silkworm pupae is the main by-product of the sericulture industry with an interesting nutritional profile, especially in terms of proteins. In consideration of its possible use as a food or food ingredient in Western countries, a comparative proteomic experiment has been performed to investigate the differences of the protein profile of male and female silkworm pupae reared on mulberry leaves or on an artificial diet.

Methods

The nutritional profile of lyophilized silkworm pupae in terms of dry matter and ash was evaluated according to the AOAC procedures, the total nitrogen content was determined by a nitrogen analyzer and the silkworm pupae gross energy value was measured using an adiabatic calorimetric bomb. The comparative proteomic analysis was performed on male and female silkworm pupae reared on mulberry leaves or on the artificial diet. Proteins were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis and, after a multivariate statistical analysis, the differentially expressed proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS.

Results

The comparative proteomic approach highlighted 47 silkworm pupae proteins differentially expressed comparing diet and gender. PCA analysis showed that seven proteins were more effective in discriminating the sex and five were more effective in discriminating the diet type. In spite of the above-mentioned differences in the silkworm pupae protein profile, no strong alteration of the pupa physiological traits have been demonstrated, suggesting a general silkworm pupae flexibility to adapt to a well-balanced artificial diet. Differences in lipid transport and metabolism were found among the experimental groups, that might have a relevant effect on the timing and on hormone secretion. This aspect may also affect silk production, as univoltine strains are the most productive. The proteomic data provided in this work, may offer a contribution in understanding also the influence of gender and farming strategy on the allergen profile of Bombyx mori, when used as food or as a food ingredient. Female silkworm pupae reared on mulberry leaves seemed to contain lower levels of known allergens than those reared in the other experimental conditions; these findings will have to be taken into account when farming B. mori for food production purposes. However, our results need to be supported by further characterization of the allergenic potential of B. mori.

Sub-micrometer insights into the cytoskeletal dynamics and ultrastructural diversity of butterfly wing scales

BACKGROUND

The color patterns that adorn lepidopteran wings are ideal for studying cell type diversity using a phenomics approach. Color patterns are made of chitinous scales that are each the product of a single precursor cell, offering a 2D system where phenotypic diversity can be studied cell by cell, both within and between species. Those scales reveal complex ultrastructures in the sub-micrometer range that are often connected to a photonic function, including iridescent blues and greens, highly reflective whites, or light-trapping blacks.

RESULTS

We found that during scale development, Fascin immunostainings reveal punctate distributions consistent with a role in the control of actin patterning. We quantified the cytoskeleton regularity as well as its relationship to chitin deposition sites, and confirmed a role in the patterning of the ultrastructures of the adults scales. Then, in an attempt to characterize the range and variation in lepidopteran scale ultrastructures, we devised a high-throughput method to quickly derive multiple morphological measurements from fluorescence images and scanning electron micrographs. We imaged a multicolor eyespot element from the butterfly Vanessa cardui (V. cardui), taking approximately 200 000 individual measurements from 1161 scales. Principal component analyses revealed that scale structural features cluster by color type, and detected the divergence of non-reflective scales characterized by tighter cross-rib distances and increased orderedness.

CONCLUSION

We developed descriptive methods that advance the potential of butterfly wing scales as a model system for studying how a single cell type can differentiate into a multifaceted spectrum of complex morphologies. Our data suggest that specific color scales undergo a tight regulation of their ultrastructures, and that this involves cytoskeletal dynamics during scale growth.

The plus-tip tracking and microtubule stabilizing activities of Javelin-like regulate microtubule organization and cell polarity

Cell polarity is essential for building cell asymmetry in all eukaryotic cells. Drosophila oocyte and bristle development require the newly characterized Spn-F protein complex, which includes Spn-F, IKKε, and Javelin-like (Jvl), to establish polarity. Jvl is a novel microtubule (MT)-associated protein; however, the mechanism by which it regulates MT organization is still unknown. We found that overexpression of Jvl stabilizes MTs and that jvl is needed for stable MT arrangement at the bristle tip and organization of the dynamic MT throughout the bristle shaft. At low levels of expression in cultured cells, Jvl behaved as a microtubule plus-end tracking protein. We demonstrated that Jvl physically interacts with the highly conserved MT end-binding protein 1 (EB1) using yeast two-hybrid and GST pull-down assays. This interaction is, however, dispensable for Jvl function in oocyte and bristle development. In addition, using a MT-binding assay, we saw that Jvl-C terminus directly binds to MTs. We also revealed that oocyte developmental arrest caused by Jvl overexpression in the germline can be rescued by mutations in its partners, spn-F and ikkε, suggesting that complex formation with Spn-F and IKKε is required for Jvl function in vivo. In summary, our results show that the microtubule plus-end tracking and stabilizing activities of Jvl are central for controlling cell polarity of oocytes and bristles.

The Balance between Actin-Bundling Factors Controls Actin Architecture in Pollen Tubes

How actin-bundling factors cooperatively regulate shank-localized actin bundles remains largely unexplored. Here we demonstrate that FIM5 and PLIM2a/PLIM2b decorate shank-localized actin bundles and that loss of function of PLIM2a and/or PLIM2b suppresses phenotypes associated with fim5 mutants. Specifically, knockout of PLIM2a and/or PLIM2b partially suppresses the disorganized actin bundle and intracellular trafficking phenotype in fim5 pollen tubes. PLIM2a/PLIM2b generates thick but loosely packed actin bundles, whereas FIM5 generates thin but tight actin bundles that tend to be cross-linked into networks in vitro. Furthermore, PLIM2a/PLIM2b and FIM5 compete for binding to actin filaments in vitro, and PLIM2a/PLIM2b decorate disorganized actin bundles in fim5 pollen tubes. These data together suggest that the disorganized actin bundles in fim5 mutants are at least partially due to gain of function of PLIM2a/PLIM2b. Our data suggest that the balance between FIM5 and PLIM2a/PLIM2b is crucial for the normal bundling and organization of shank-localized actin bundles in pollen tubes.

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The transcription of PLIM2a and PLIM2b is upregulated in fim5 pollen tubes

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Downregulation of PLIM2a and/or PLIM2b suppresses the defects in fim5 pollen tubes

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Both FIM5 and PLIM2a/PLIM2b decorate shank-localized actin filaments

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FIM5 can inhibit the binding of PLIM2a and PLIM2b to actin filaments

GFP-Forked, a genetic reporter for studying Drosophila oocyte polarity

The polarized organization of the Drosophila oocyte can be visualized by examining the asymmetric localization of mRNAs, which is supported by networks of polarized microtubules (MTs). In this study, we used the gene forked, the putative Drosophila homologue of espin, to develop a unique genetic reporter for asymmetric oocyte organization. We generated a null allele of the forked gene using the CRISPR-Cas9 system and found that forked is not required for determining the axes of the Drosophila embryo. However, ectopic expression of a truncated form of GFP-Forked generated a distinct network of asymmetric Forked, which first accumulated at the oocyte posterior and was then restricted to the anterolateral region of the oocyte cortex in mid-oogenesis. This localization pattern resembled that reported for the polarized MTs network. Indeed, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of the polarized organization of the oocyte showed that the filamentous Forked network diffused throughout the entire cortical surface of the oocyte, as would be expected upon perturbation of oocyte polarization. Finally, we demonstrated that Forked associated with Short-stop and Patronin foci, which assemble non-centrosomal MT-organizing centers. Our results thus show that clear visualization of asymmetric GFP-Forked network localization can be used as a novel tool for studying oocyte polarity.

Summary: The novel asymmetric Forked network could be used as a genetic reporter for visualizing and studying oocyte polarity.

Ena/VASP processive elongation is modulated by avidity on actin filaments bundled by the filopodia cross-linker fascin

Ena/VASP tetramers are processive actin elongation factors that localize to diverse F-actin networks composed of filaments bundled by different cross-linking proteins, such as filopodia (fascin), lamellipodia (fimbrin), and stress fibers (α-actinin). Previously, we found that Ena takes approximately threefold longer processive runs on trailing barbed ends of fascin-bundled F-actin. Here, we used single-molecule TIRFM (total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy) and developed a kinetic model to further dissect Ena/VASP’s processive mechanism on bundled filaments. We discovered that Ena’s enhanced processivity on trailing barbed ends is specific to fascin bundles, with no enhancement on fimbrin or α-actinin bundles. Notably, Ena/VASP’s processive run length increases with the number of both fascin-bundled filaments and Ena “arms,” revealing avidity facilitates enhanced processivity. Consistently, Ena tetramers form more filopodia than mutant dimer and trimers in Drosophila culture cells. Moreover, enhanced processivity on trailing barbed ends of fascin-bundled filaments is an evolutionarily conserved property of Ena/VASP homologues, including human VASP and Caenorhabditis elegans UNC-34. These results demonstrate that Ena tetramers are tailored for enhanced processivity on fascin bundles and that avidity of multiple arms associating with multiple filaments is critical for this process. Furthermore, we discovered a novel regulatory process whereby bundle size and bundling protein specificity control activities of a processive assembly factor.

Crinkled employs wingless pathway for wing development in Tribolium castaneum

Crinkled is associated with embryonic denticle formation and auditory organ development in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the functions of Crinkled have not been fully investigated. Additionally, the genes that participate in the Crinkled pathway are unknown. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that crinkled exhibits a one-to-one orthologous relationship in insects. In Tribolium castaneum, the crinkled gene is 6,498 bp in length and consists of six exons. Crinkled expression peaked during two phases in Tribolium: late embryonic and pupal stages. High levels of crinkled mRNA were detected in the fat body, head, epidermis, ovary, and accessory gland of late adults. Knockdown of crinkled using RNA interference (RNAi) severely affected wing morphogenesis in T. castaneum. We further showed that crinkled silencing reduced forked expression through wingless and shaven-baby, and RNAi of forked phenocopied the effects of crinkled knockdown in T. castaneum. This study investigated the development role of crinkled in postembryonic stages and indicated that forked mediates the functions of crinkled during wing morphogenesis in T. castaneum.

Crumbs, Moesin and Yurt regulate junctional stability and dynamics for a proper morphogenesis of the Drosophila pupal wing epithelium

The Crumbs (Crb) complex is a key epithelial determinant. To understand its role in morphogenesis, we examined its function in the Drosophila pupal wing, an epithelium undergoing hexagonal packing and formation of planar-oriented hairs. Crb distribution is dynamic, being stabilized to the subapical region just before hair formation. Lack of crb or stardust, but not DPatj, affects hexagonal packing and delays hair formation, without impairing epithelial polarities but with increased fluctuations in cell junctions and perimeter length, fragmentation of adherens junctions and the actomyosin cytoskeleton. Crb interacts with Moesin and Yurt, FERM proteins regulating the actomyosin network. We found that Moesin and Yurt distribution at the subapical region depends on Crb. In contrast to previous reports, yurt, but not moesin, mutants phenocopy crb junctional defects. Moreover, while unaffected in crb mutants, cell perimeter increases in yurt mutant cells and decreases in the absence of moesin function. Our data suggest that Crb coordinates proper hexagonal packing and hair formation, by modulating junction integrity via Yurt and stabilizing cell perimeter via both Yurt and Moesin. The Drosophila pupal wing thus appears as a useful system to investigate the functional diversification of the Crb complex during morphogenesis, independently of its role in polarity.

SoxNeuro and Shavenbaby act cooperatively to shape denticles in the embryonic epidermis of Drosophila

During development, extracellular signals are integrated by cells to induce the transcriptional circuitry that controls morphogenesis. In the fly epidermis, Wingless (Wg)/Wnt signaling directs cells to produce either a distinctly shaped denticle or no denticle, resulting in a segmental pattern of denticle belts separated by smooth, or 'naked', cuticle. Naked cuticle results from Wg repression of shavenbaby (svb), which encodes a transcription factor required for denticle construction. We have discovered that although the svb promoter responds differentially to altered Wg levels, Svb alone cannot produce the morphological diversity of denticles found in wild-type belts. Instead, a second Wg-responsive transcription factor, SoxNeuro (SoxN), cooperates with Svb to shape the denticles. Co-expressing ectopic SoxN with svb rescued diverse denticle morphologies. Conversely, removing SoxN activity eliminated the residual denticles found in svb mutant embryos. Furthermore, several known Svb target genes are also activated by SoxN, and we have discovered two novel target genes of SoxN that are expressed in denticle-producing cells and that are regulated independently of Svb. We conclude that proper denticle morphogenesis requires transcriptional regulation by both SoxN and Svb.

IKKε inhibits PKC to promote Fascin-dependent actin bundling

Signaling molecules have pleiotropic functions and are activated by various extracellular stimuli. Protein kinase C (PKC) is activated by diverse receptors, and its dysregulation is associated with diseases including cancer. However, how the undesired activation of PKC is prevented during development remains poorly understood. We have previously shown that a protein kinase, IKKε, is active at the growing bristle tip and regulates actin bundle organization during Drosophila bristle morphogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that IKKε regulates the actin bundle localization of a dynamic actin cross-linker, Fascin. IKKε inhibits PKC, thereby protecting Fascin from inhibitory phosphorylation. Excess PKC activation is responsible for the actin bundle defects in IKKε-deficient bristles, whereas PKC is dispensable for bristle morphogenesis in wild-type bristles, indicating that PKC is repressed by IKKε in wild-type bristle cells. These results suggest that IKKε prevents excess activation of PKC during bristle morphogenesis.

Summary: The protein kinase IKKϵ is active at the growing tip of Drosophila bristles and prevents excess PKC activation during bristle actin bundle organization and morphogenesis.

Fscn1 is required for the trafficking of TGF-β family type I receptors during endoderm formation

Microtubules function in TGF-β signalling by facilitating the cytoplasmic trafficking of internalized receptors and the nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of Smads. However, nothing is known about whether actin filaments are required for these processes. Here we report that zebrafish actin-bundling protein fscn1a is highly expressed in mesendodermal precursors and its expression is directly regulated by the TGF-β superfamily member Nodal. Knockdown or knockout of fscn1a leads to a reduction of Nodal signal transduction and endoderm formation in zebrafish embryos. Fscn1 specifically interacts with TGF-β family type I receptors, and its depletion disrupts the association between receptors and actin filaments and sequesters the internalized receptors into clathrin-coated vesicles. Therefore, Fscn1 acts as a molecular linker between TGF-β family type I receptors and the actin filaments to promote the trafficking of internalized receptors from clathrin-coated vesicles to early endosomes during zebrafish endoderm formation.

It is unclear how the cytoskeleton acts to assist in TGF-β signalling downstream of the receptor. Here, in zebrafish, the authors show that the actin-bundling protein FSCN1 interacts with TGF-β type I receptors ALK 4 and 5, enabling actin filament mediated vesicle trafficking and endoderm formation.

Fascin regulates nuclear actin during Drosophila oogenesis

Study of Drosophila oogenesis reveals that the nuclear localization of actin is controlled by both development and Fascin. Fascin regulates both endogenous nuclear actin and ectopic nuclear actin rod formation by controlling Cofilin.

Drosophila oogenesis provides a developmental system with which to study nuclear actin. During Stages 5–9, nuclear actin levels are high in the oocyte and exhibit variation within the nurse cells. Cofilin and Profilin, which regulate the nuclear import and export of actin, also localize to the nuclei. Expression of GFP-tagged Actin results in nuclear actin rod formation. These findings indicate that nuclear actin must be tightly regulated during oogenesis. One factor mediating this regulation is Fascin. Overexpression of Fascin enhances nuclear GFP-Actin rod formation, and Fascin colocalizes with the rods. Loss of Fascin reduces, whereas overexpression of Fascin increases, the frequency of nurse cells with high levels of nuclear actin, but neither alters the overall nuclear level of actin within the ovary. These data suggest that Fascin regulates the ability of specific cells to accumulate nuclear actin. Evidence indicates that Fascin positively regulates nuclear actin through Cofilin. Loss of Fascin results in decreased nuclear Cofilin. In addition, Fascin and Cofilin genetically interact, as double heterozygotes exhibit a reduction in the number of nurse cells with high nuclear actin levels. These findings are likely applicable beyond Drosophila follicle development, as the localization and functions of Fascin and the mechanisms regulating nuclear actin are widely conserved.

Cofilin-mediated actin dynamics promotes actin bundle formation during Drosophila bristle development

The actin bundle is an array of linear actin filaments cross-linked by actin-bundling proteins, but its assembly and dynamics are not as well understood as those of the branched actin network. Here we used the Drosophila bristle as a model system to study actin bundle formation. We found that cofilin, a major actin disassembly factor of the branched actin network, promotes the formation and positioning of actin bundles in the developing bristles. Loss of function of cofilin or AIP1, a cofactor of cofilin, each resulted in increased F-actin levels and severe defects in actin bundle organization, with the defects from cofilin deficiency being more severe. Further analyses revealed that cofilin likely regulates actin bundle formation and positioning by the following means. First, cofilin promotes a large G-actin pool both locally and globally, likely ensuring rapid actin polymerization for bundle initiation and growth. Second, cofilin limits the size of a nonbundled actin-myosin network to regulate the positioning of actin bundles. Third, cofilin prevents incorrect assembly of branched and myosin-associated actin filament into bundles. Together these results demonstrate that the interaction between the dynamic dendritic actin network and the assembling actin bundles is critical for actin bundle formation and needs to be closely regulated.

Signaling through the G-protein-coupled receptor Rickets is important for polarity, detachment, and migration of the border cells in Drosophila

Cell migration plays crucial roles during development. An excellent model to study coordinated cell movements is provided by the migration of border cell clusters within a developing Drosophila egg chamber. In a mutagenesis screen, we isolated two alleles of the gene rickets (rk) encoding a G-protein-coupled receptor. The rk alleles result in border cell migration defects in a significant fraction of egg chambers. In rk mutants, border cells are properly specified and express the marker Slbo. Yet, analysis of both fixed as well as live samples revealed that some single border cells lag behind the main border cell cluster during migration, or, in other cases, the entire border cell cluster can remain tethered to the anterior epithelium as it migrates. These defects are observed significantly more often in mosaic border cell clusters, than in full mutant clusters. Reduction of the Rk ligand, Bursicon, in the border cell cluster also resulted in migration defects, strongly suggesting that Rk signaling is utilized for communication within the border cell cluster itself. The mutant border cell clusters show defects in localization of the adhesion protein E-cadherin, and apical polarity proteins during migration. E-cadherin mislocalization occurs in mosaic clusters, but not in full mutant clusters, correlating well with the rk border cell migration phenotype. Our work has identified a receptor with a previously unknown role in border cell migration that appears to regulate detachment and polarity of the border cell cluster coordinating processes within the cells of the cluster themselves.

Dynamic myosin activation promotes collective morphology and migration by locally balancing oppositional forces from surrounding tissue

A challenge for migrating collectives is to respond to physical changes in local environments. Border cells migrate collectively in the Drosophila ovary and require dynamic myosin to maintain their morphology. Border cells elevate active myosin in response to tissue compression. Myosin tension counteracts tissue constraints for collective movement.

Migrating cells need to overcome physical constraints from the local microenvironment to navigate their way through tissues. Cells that move collectively have the additional challenge of negotiating complex environments in vivo while maintaining cohesion of the group as a whole. The mechanisms by which collectives maintain a migratory morphology while resisting physical constraints from the surrounding tissue are poorly understood. Drosophila border cells represent a genetic model of collective migration within a cell-dense tissue. Border cells move as a cohesive group of 6−10 cells, traversing a network of large germ line–derived nurse cells within the ovary. Here we show that the border cell cluster is compact and round throughout their entire migration, a shape that is maintained despite the mechanical pressure imposed by the surrounding nurse cells. Nonmuscle myosin II (Myo-II) activity at the cluster periphery becomes elevated in response to increased constriction by nurse cells. Furthermore, the distinctive border cell collective morphology requires highly dynamic and localized enrichment of Myo-II. Thus, activated Myo-II promotes cortical tension at the outer edge of the migrating border cell cluster to resist compressive forces from nurse cells. We propose that dynamic actomyosin tension at the periphery of collectives facilitates their movement through restrictive tissues.

Rare recombination events generate sequence diversity among balancer chromosomes in Drosophila melanogaster

Multiply inverted balancer chromosomes that suppress exchange with their homologs are an essential part of the Drosophila melanogaster genetic toolkit. Despite their widespread use, the organization of balancer chromosomes has not been characterized at the molecular level, and the degree of sequence variation among copies of balancer chromosomes is unknown. To map inversion breakpoints and study potential diversity in descendants of a structurally identical balancer chromosome, we sequenced a panel of laboratory stocks containing the most widely used X chromosome balancer, First Multiple 7 (FM7). We mapped the locations of FM7 breakpoints to precise euchromatic coordinates and identified the flanking sequence of breakpoints in heterochromatic regions. Analysis of SNP variation revealed megabase-scale blocks of sequence divergence among currently used FM7 stocks. We present evidence that this divergence arose through rare double-crossover events that replaced a female-sterile allele of the singed gene (sn(X2)) on FM7c with a sequence from balanced chromosomes. We propose that although double-crossover events are rare in individual crosses, many FM7c chromosomes in the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center have lost sn(X2) by this mechanism on a historical timescale. Finally, we characterize the original allele of the Bar gene (B(1)) that is carried on FM7, and validate the hypothesis that the origin and subsequent reversion of the B(1) duplication are mediated by unequal exchange. Our results reject a simple nonrecombining, clonal mode for the laboratory evolution of balancer chromosomes and have implications for how balancer chromosomes should be used in the design and interpretation of genetic experiments in Drosophila.

Prostaglandins regulate nuclear localization of Fascin and its function in nucleolar architecture

Fascin, a conserved actin-bundling protein, is not only cytoplasmic but also localizes to the nucleus and nuclear periphery in both Drosophila and mammalian cell contexts. In Drosophila, prostaglandin signaling regulates this localization. In addition, Fascin plays a critical role in nucleolar architecture in both Drosophila and mammalian cells.

Fascin, a highly conserved actin-bundling protein, localizes and functions at new cellular sites in both Drosophila and multiple mammalian cell types. During Drosophila follicle development, in addition to being cytoplasmic, Fascin is in the nuclei of the germline-derived nurse cells during stages 10B–12 (S10B–12) and at the nuclear periphery during stage 13 (S13). This localization is specific to Fascin, as other actin-binding proteins, Villin and Profilin, do not exhibit the same subcellular distribution. In addition, localization of fascin1 to the nucleus and nuclear periphery is observed in multiple mammalian cell types. Thus the regulation and function of Fascin at these new cellular locations is likely to be highly conserved. In Drosophila, loss of prostaglandin signaling causes a global reduction in nuclear Fascin and a failure to relocalize to the nuclear periphery. Alterations in nuclear Fascin levels result in defects in nucleolar morphology in both Drosophila follicles and cultured mammalian cells, suggesting that nuclear Fascin plays an important role in nucleolar architecture. Given the numerous roles of Fascin in development and disease, including cancer, our novel finding that Fascin has functions within the nucleus sheds new light on the potential roles of Fascin in these contexts.

The diaphanous gene of Drosophila interacts antagonistically with multiple wing hairs and plays a key role in wing hair morphogenesis

The Drosophila wing is covered by an array of distally pointing hairs that has served as a key model system for studying planar cell polarity (PCP). The adult cuticular hairs are formed in the pupae from cell extensions that contain extensive actin filaments and microtubules. The importance of the actin cytoskeleton for hair growth and morphogenesis is clear from the wide range of phenotypes seen in mutations in well-known actin regulators. Formin proteins promote the formation of long actin filaments of the sort thought to be important for hair growth. We report here that the formin encoding diaphanous (dia) gene plays a key role in hair morphogenesis. Both loss of function mutations and the expression of a constitutively active Dia led to cells forming both morphologically abnormal hairs and multiple hairs. The conserved frizzled (fz)/starry night (stan) PCP pathway functions to restrict hair initiation and activation of the cytoskeleton to the distal most part of wing cells. It also ensures the formation of a single hair per cell. Our data suggest that the localized inhibition of Dia activity may be part of this mechanism. We found the expression of constitutively active Dia greatly expands the region for activation of the cytoskeleton and that dia functions antagonistically with multiple wing hairs (mwh), the most downstream member of the fz/stan pathway. Further we established that purified fragments of Dia and Mwh could be co-immunoprecipitated suggesting the genetic interaction could reflect a direct physical interaction.

Fascin, may the Forked be with you

The FGFR pathway triggers a wide range of key biological responses. Among others, the Breathless (Btl, Drosophila FGFR1) receptor cascade promotes cell migration during embryonic tracheal system development. However, how the actin cytoskeleton responds to Btl pathway activation to induce cell migration has remained largely unclear. Our recent results shed light into this issue by unveiling a link between the actin-bundling protein Singed (Sn) and the Btl pathway. We showed that the Btl pathway regulates sn, which leads to the stabilization of the actin bundles required for filopodia formation and actin cytoskeleton rearrangement. This regulation contributes to tracheal migration, tracheal branch fusion and tracheal cell elongation. Parallel actin bundles (PABs) are usually cross-linked by more than one actin-bundling protein. Accordingly, we have also shown that sn synergistically interacts with forked (f), another actin crosslinker. In this Extra View we extend f analysis and hypothesize how both actin-bundling proteins may act together to regulate the PABs during tracheal embryonic development. Although both proteins are required for similar tracheal events, we suggest that Sn is essential for actin bundle initiation and stiffening, while F is required for the lengthening and further stabilization of the PABs.

A role for fascin in preventing filopodia breakage in Drosophila tracheal cells

Filopodia are long and thin finger-like protrusions essential for cell migration. They are formed by parallel actin bundles tightly packed by cell type and context dependent actin-bundling proteins. Our recent work analyzing the role of Fascin during tracheal development in Drosophila has shown that Singed (the Drosophila Fascin homolog) acts as a molecular link between the Branchless (FGF)/Breathless (FGFR) pathway and the actin cytoskeleton. We have reported that the lack of Singed (Sn) leads to wavy and flaccid filopodia due to the disorganization of the tracheal actin cytoskeleton. Here we describe for the first time filopodia breakage in Drosophila, and show that Fascin plays a role in this event. We propose that actin filaments in sn mutant filopodia buckle under membrane pressure due to lower bending stiffness, eventually undergoing breakage. Both Filopodia buckling and breakage would impair correct cell navigation and migration.

Fascin links Btl/FGFR signalling to the actin cytoskeleton during Drosophila tracheal morphogenesis

A key challenge in normal development and in disease is to elucidate the mechanisms of cell migration. Here we approach this question using the tracheal system of Drosophila as a model. Tracheal cell migration requires the Breathless/FGFR pathway; however, how the pathway induces migration remains poorly understood. We find that the Breathless pathway upregulates singed at the tip of tracheal branches, and that this regulation is functionally relevant. singed encodes Drosophila Fascin, which belongs to a conserved family of actin-bundling proteins involved in cancer progression and metastasis upon misregulation. We show that singed is required for filopodia stiffness and proper morphology of tracheal tip cells, defects that correlate with an abnormal actin organisation. We propose that singed-regulated filopodia and cell fronts are required for timely and guided branch migration and for terminal branching and branch fusion. We find that singed requirements rely on its actin-bundling activity controlled by phosphorylation, and that active Singed can promote tip cell features. Furthermore, we find that singed acts in concert with forked, another actin cross-linker. The absence of both cross-linkers further stresses the relevance of tip cell morphology and filopodia for tracheal development. In summary, our results on the one hand reveal a previously undescribed role for forked in the organisation of transient actin structures such as filopodia, and on the other hand identify singed as a new target of Breathless signal, establishing a link between guidance cues, the actin cytoskeleton and tracheal morphogenesis.

Capping protein beta is required for actin cytoskeleton organisation and cell migration during Drosophila oogenesis

Capping protein (CP) is a well-characterised actin-binding protein important for regulation of actin filament (AF) assembly. CP caps the barbed end of AFs, inhibiting the addition and loss of actin monomers. In Drosophila melanogaster, the gene encoding CP β-subunit is named capping protein beta (cpb; see Hopmann et al. [1996] J Cell Biol 133: 1293-305). The cpb level is reduced in the Drosophila bristle actin cytoskeleton and becomes disorganised with abnormal morphology. A reduced level of the CP protein in ovary results in disruption of oocyte determination, and disturbance of nurse cell (NC) cortical integrity and dumping. We describe novel defects appearing in cpb mutants during oogenesis, in which cpb plays an important role in border and centripetal follicle cell migration, ring canal development and cytoplasmic AF formation. The number of long cytoplasmic AFs was dramatically reduced in cpb hypomorphs and abnormal actin aggregates was seen on the inner side of NC membranes. A hypothesis to explain the formation of abnormal short-cut cytoplasmic AFs and actin aggregates in the cpb mutant NCs was proffered, along with a discussion of the reasons for 'dumpless' phenotype formation in the mutants.

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.

Fascin 1 is transiently expressed in mouse melanoblasts during development and promotes migration and proliferation

Fascins, a family of actin-bundling proteins, are expressed in a spatially and temporally restricted manner during development and often in cancer. Fascin 1 has a clear role in cell migration in vitro, but its role in vivo in mammals is not well understood. Here, we investigate the role of fascin 1 in the melanocyte lineage and in melanoma cells. Fascin 1 knockout causes hypopigmentation in adult mice owing to migration and cell cycle progression defects in melanoblasts, the melanocyte precursor cell. Study of live embryo skin explants reveals that E14.5 fascin 1-null melanoblasts migrate slower, and generate fewer and thinner pseudopods. By contrast, fascin 1 expression drives faster migration and lamellipodia protrusion in melanocytes in vitro. In addition, fascin 1 depletion retards melanoblast proliferation in vivo and melanoma cell growth in vitro. These data indicate that fascin 1 not only promotes cell migration in mouse melanocytes but it also has a role in growth and cell cycle progression.