Wallenda-Nmo Axis Regulates Growth via Hippo Signaling

Nlnemo suppresses of BMP signaling in wing development of the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens

Nemo-like kinases (NLKs) integrate multiple signaling pathways and exhibit functional diversity in developmental processes, including the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway. However, their roles in insect wing development, particularly in hemimetabolous insects like the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens), remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of Nlnemo (Nlnmo), an NLK, in the wing development of N. lugens. We cloned and characterized Nlnmo and found it highly conserved across insect species. Expression analysis revealed higher Nlnmo levels in brachypterous compared to macropterous strains, particularly in wing buds. RNA interference (RNAi) of Nlnmo led to enlarged wing and thickened veins, indicating its inhibitory role in wing development. Further analysis revealed that Nlnmo suppresses BMP signaling by downregulating Nlmad1 and Nldpp. Dual knockdown of Nlmad1 and Nlnmo demonstrated that Nlnmo mitigates Nlmad1-mediated effects on wing development. These findings establish Nlnmo function as a key suppressor of wing development in N. lugens via BMP signaling inhibition through Nlmad1. This study deepens our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying wing development in in N. lugens and highlights potential pest management strategies by targeting migration-related traits.

The emerging potentials of lncRNA DRAIC in human cancers

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a subtype of noncoding RNA that has more than 200 nucleotides. Numerous studies have confirmed that lncRNA is relevant during multiple biological processes through the regulation of various genes, thus affecting disease progression. The lncRNA DRAIC, a newly discovered lncRNA, has been found to be abnormally expressed in a variety of diseases, particularly cancer. Indeed, the dysregulation of DRAIC expression is closely related to clinicopathological features. It was also reported that DRAIC is key to biological functions such as cell proliferation, autophagy, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, DRAIC is of great clinical significance in human disease. In this review, we discuss the expression signature, clinical characteristics, biological functions, relevant mechanisms, and potential clinical applications of DRAIC in several human diseases.

RasV12; scrib-/- Tumors: A Cooperative Oncogenesis Model Fueled by Tumor/Host Interactions

The phenomenon of how oncogenes and tumor-suppressor mutations can synergize to promote tumor fitness and cancer progression can be studied in relatively simple animal model systems such as Drosophila melanogaster. Almost two decades after the landmark discovery of cooperative oncogenesis between oncogenic Ras^V12 and the loss of the tumor suppressor scribble in flies, this and other tumor models have provided new concepts and findings in cancer biology that has remarkable parallels and relevance to human cancer. Here we review findings using the Ras^V12; scrib^-/- tumor model and how it has contributed to our understanding of how these initial simple genetic insults cooperate within the tumor cell to set in motion the malignant transformation program leading to tumor growth through cell growth, cell survival and proliferation, dismantling of cell-cell interactions, degradation of basement membrane and spreading to other organs. Recent findings have demonstrated that cooperativity goes beyond cell intrinsic mechanisms as the tumor interacts with the immediate cells of the microenvironment, the immune system and systemic organs to eventually facilitate malignant progression.