1
|
Faria L, Canato S, Jesus TT, Gonçalves M, Guerreiro PS, Lopes CS, Meireles I, Morais-de-Sá E, Paredes J, Janody F. Activation of an actin signaling pathway in pre-malignant mammary epithelial cells by P-cadherin is essential for transformation. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm049652. [PMID: 36808468 PMCID: PMC9983776 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in the expression or function of cell adhesion molecules have been implicated in all steps of tumor progression. Among those, P-cadherin is highly enriched in basal-like breast carcinomas, playing a central role in cancer cell self-renewal, collective cell migration and invasion. To establish a clinically relevant platform for functional exploration of P-cadherin effectors in vivo, we generated a humanized P-cadherin Drosophila model. We report that actin nucleators, Mrtf and Srf, are main P-cadherin effectors in fly. We validated these findings in a human mammary epithelial cell line with conditional activation of the SRC oncogene. We show that, prior to promoting malignant phenotypes, SRC induces a transient increase in P-cadherin expression, which correlates with MRTF-A accumulation, its nuclear translocation and the upregulation of SRF target genes. Moreover, knocking down P-cadherin, or preventing F-actin polymerization, impairs SRF transcriptional activity. Furthermore, blocking MRTF-A nuclear translocation hampers proliferation, self-renewal and invasion. Thus, in addition to sustaining malignant phenotypes, P-cadherin can also play a major role in the early stages of breast carcinogenesis by promoting a transient boost of MRTF-A-SRF signaling through actin regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lídia Faria
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, n 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Master Programme in Oncology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Canato
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, n 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Physiology and Cancer Program, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida de Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tito T. Jesus
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, n 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Margarida Gonçalves
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Patrícia S. Guerreiro
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, n 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Vector B2B - Drug Developing - Associação Para Investigação em Biotecnologia, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, Edifício Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carla S. Lopes
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Isabel Meireles
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, n 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Eurico Morais-de-Sá
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Paredes
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, n 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- FMUP, Medical Faculty of University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Florence Janody
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (Ipatimup), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, n 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, P-2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Khalil K, Eon A, Janody F. Cell Architecture-Dependent Constraints: Critical Safeguards to Carcinogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158622. [PMID: 35955754 PMCID: PMC9369145 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal cells display great diversity in their shape. These morphological characteristics result from crosstalk between the plasma membrane and the force-generating capacities of the cytoskeleton macromolecules. Changes in cell shape are not merely byproducts of cell fate determinants, they also actively drive cell fate decisions, including proliferation and differentiation. Global and local changes in cell shape alter the transcriptional program by a multitude of mechanisms, including the regulation of physical links between the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope and the mechanical modulation of cation channels and signalling molecules. It is therefore not surprising that anomalies in cell shape contribute to several diseases, including cancer. In this review, we discuss the possibility that the constraints imposed by cell shape determine the behaviour of normal and pro-tumour cells by organizing the whole interconnected regulatory network. In turn, cell behaviour might stabilize cells into discrete shapes. However, to progress towards a fully transformed phenotype and to acquire plasticity properties, pro-tumour cells might need to escape these cell shape restrictions. Thus, robust controls of the cell shape machinery may represent a critical safeguard against carcinogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Komal Khalil
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (K.K.); (A.E.)
- IPATIMUP—Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Master Programme in Oncology, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513 Porto, Portugal
| | - Alice Eon
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (K.K.); (A.E.)
- IPATIMUP—Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Magistère Européen de Génétique, Université Paris Cité, 5 Rue Thomas Mann, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Florence Janody
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (K.K.); (A.E.)
- IPATIMUP—Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Selvaggio G, Chaouiya C, Janody F. In Silico Logical Modelling to Uncover Cooperative Interactions in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094897. [PMID: 34063110 PMCID: PMC8125147 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The multistep development of cancer involves the cooperation between multiple molecular lesions, as well as complex interactions between cancer cells and the surrounding tumour microenvironment. The search for these synergistic interactions using experimental models made tremendous contributions to our understanding of oncogenesis. Yet, these approaches remain labour-intensive and challenging. To tackle such a hurdle, an integrative, multidisciplinary effort is required. In this article, we highlight the use of logical computational models, combined with experimental validations, as an effective approach to identify cooperative mechanisms and therapeutic strategies in the context of cancer biology. In silico models overcome limitations of reductionist approaches by capturing tumour complexity and by generating powerful testable hypotheses. We review representative examples of logical models reported in the literature and their validation. We then provide further analyses of our logical model of Epithelium to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), searching for additional cooperative interactions involving inputs from the tumour microenvironment and gain of function mutations in NOTCH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Selvaggio
- Fondazione the Microsoft Research—University of Trento Centre for Computational and Systems Biology (COSBI), Piazza Manifattura 1, 38068 Rovereto, Italy;
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Claudine Chaouiya
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
- CNRS, Centrale Marseille, I2M, Aix Marseille University, 13397 Marseille, France
- Correspondence: (C.C.); (F.J.)
| | - Florence Janody
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- IPATIMUP—Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: (C.C.); (F.J.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Selvaggio G, Canato S, Pawar A, Monteiro PT, Guerreiro PS, Brás MM, Janody F, Chaouiya C. Hybrid Epithelial-Mesenchymal Phenotypes Are Controlled by Microenvironmental Factors. Cancer Res 2020; 80:2407-2420. [PMID: 32217696 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-3147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been associated with cancer cell heterogeneity, plasticity, and metastasis. However, the extrinsic signals supervising these phenotypic transitions remain elusive. To assess how selected microenvironmental signals control cancer-associated phenotypes along the EMT continuum, we defined a logical model of the EMT cellular network that yields qualitative degrees of cell adhesions by adherens junctions and focal adhesions, two features affected during EMT. The model attractors recovered epithelial, mesenchymal, and hybrid phenotypes. Simulations showed that hybrid phenotypes may arise through independent molecular paths involving stringent extrinsic signals. Of particular interest, model predictions and their experimental validations indicated that: (i) stiffening of the extracellular matrix was a prerequisite for cells overactivating FAK_SRC to upregulate SNAIL and acquire a mesenchymal phenotype and (ii) FAK_SRC inhibition of cell-cell contacts through the receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatases kappa led to acquisition of a full mesenchymal, rather than a hybrid, phenotype. Altogether, these computational and experimental approaches allow assessment of critical microenvironmental signals controlling hybrid EMT phenotypes and indicate that EMT involves multiple molecular programs. SIGNIFICANCE: A multidisciplinary study sheds light on microenvironmental signals controlling cancer cell plasticity along EMT and suggests that hybrid and mesenchymal phenotypes arise through independent molecular paths.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Selvaggio
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, Oeiras, Portugal.,Fondazione The Microsoft Research - University of Trento Centre for Computational and Systems Biology (COSBI), Rovereto (TN), Italy
| | - Sara Canato
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, Oeiras, Portugal.,i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, Porto, Portugal
| | - Archana Pawar
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, Oeiras, Portugal.,Haffkine Institute for Training Research and Testing, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Pedro T Monteiro
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Investigação e Desenvolvimento (INESC-ID), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Patrícia S Guerreiro
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, Oeiras, Portugal.,i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, Porto, Portugal
| | - M Manuela Brás
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, Porto, Portugal.,INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,FEUP-Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, Porto, Portugal
| | - Florence Janody
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, Oeiras, Portugal. .,i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, Porto, Portugal
| | - Claudine Chaouiya
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, Oeiras, Portugal. .,Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Central Marseille 12M, Marseille, France
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Jain PB, Guerreiro PS, Canato S, Janody F. The spectraplakin Dystonin antagonizes YAP activity and suppresses tumourigenesis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19843. [PMID: 31882643 PMCID: PMC6934804 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56296-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant expression of the Spectraplakin Dystonin (DST) has been observed in various cancers, including those of the breast. However, little is known about its role in carcinogenesis. In this report, we demonstrate that Dystonin is a candidate tumour suppressor in breast cancer and provide an underlying molecular mechanism. We show that in MCF10A cells, Dystonin is necessary to restrain cell growth, anchorage-independent growth, self-renewal properties and resistance to doxorubicin. Strikingly, while Dystonin maintains focal adhesion integrity, promotes cell spreading and cell-substratum adhesion, it prevents Zyxin accumulation, stabilizes LATS and restricts YAP activation. Moreover, treating DST-depleted MCF10A cells with the YAP inhibitor Verteporfin prevents their growth. In vivo, the Drosophila Dystonin Short stop also restricts tissue growth by limiting Yorkie activity. As the two Dystonin isoforms BPAG1eA and BPAG1e are necessary to inhibit the acquisition of transformed features and are both downregulated in breast tumour samples and in MCF10A cells with conditional induction of the Src proto-oncogene, they could function as the predominant Dystonin tumour suppressor variants in breast epithelial cells. Thus, their loss could deem as promising prognostic biomarkers for breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Praachi B Jain
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, P-2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal.,i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-393, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho,45, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Patrícia S Guerreiro
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, P-2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal.,i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-393, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho,45, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Canato
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, P-2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal.,i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-393, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho,45, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Florence Janody
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, P-2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal. .,i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-393, Porto, Portugal. .,IPATIMUP - Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho,45, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Janody F. The Big Bang of tissue growth: Apical cell constriction turns into tissue expansion. J Cell Biol 2018; 217:807-808. [PMID: 29386328 PMCID: PMC5839798 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201801076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Janody previews studies from the Knust and Djiane laboratories that identify Big bang as a new growth regulator in Drosophila melanogaster. How tissue growth is regulated during development and cancer is a fundamental question in biology. In this issue, Tsoumpekos et al. (2018. J. Cell Biol.https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201705104) and Forest et al. (2018. J. Cell Biol.https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201705107) identify Big bang (Bbg) as an important growth regulator of the Drosophila melanogaster wing imaginal disc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florence Janody
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal .,Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Caldeira J, Figueiredo J, Brás-Pereira C, Carneiro P, Moreira AM, Pinto MT, Relvas JB, Carneiro F, Barbosa M, Casares F, Janody F, Seruca R. E-cadherin-defective gastric cancer cells depend on Laminin to survive and invade. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 24:5891-900. [PMID: 26246502 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-cadherin (Ecad) deregulation affects cell-cell adhesion and results in increased invasiveness of distinct human carcinomas. In gastric cancer, loss of Ecad expression is a common event and is associated with disease aggressiveness and poor prognosis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the invasive process associated to Ecad dysfunction are far from understood. We hypothesized that deregulation of cell-matrix interactions could play an important role during this process. Thus, we focussed on LM-332, which is a major matrix component, and in Ecad/LM-332 crosstalk in the process of Ecad-dependent invasion. To verify whether matrix deregulation was triggered by Ecad loss, we used the Drosophila model. To dissect the key molecules involved and unveil their functional significance, we used gastric cancer cell lines. The relevance of this relationship was then confirmed in human primary tumours. In vivo, Ecad knockdown induced apoptosis; nonetheless, at the invasive front, cells ectopically expressed Laminin A and βPS integrin. In vitro, we demonstrated that, in two different gastric cancer cell models, Ecad-defective cells overexpressed Laminin γ2 (LM-γ2), β1 and β4 integrin, when compared with Ecad-competent ones. We showed that LM-γ2 silencing impaired invasion and enhanced cell death, most likely via pSrc and pAkt reduction, and JNK activation. In human gastric carcinomas, we found a concomitant decrease in Ecad and increase in LM-γ2. This is the first evidence that ectopic Laminin expression depends on Ecad loss and allows Ecad-dysfunctional cells to survive and invade. This opens new avenues for using LM-γ2 signalling regulators as molecular targets to impair gastric cancer progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joana Caldeira
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal, Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD), Seville, Spain, Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S)
| | - Joana Figueiredo
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S)
| | | | - Patrícia Carneiro
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S)
| | - Ana M Moreira
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S)
| | - Marta T Pinto
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S)
| | - João B Relvas
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Fátima Carneiro
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Department of Pathology and Oncology, Medical Faculty of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal and
| | - Mário Barbosa
- Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto (ICBAS), Porto, Portugal
| | - Fernando Casares
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD), Seville, Spain
| | | | - Raquel Seruca
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Department of Pathology and Oncology, Medical Faculty of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal,
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Gaspar P, Holder MV, Aerne BL, Janody F, Tapon N. Zyxin antagonizes the FERM protein expanded to couple F-actin and Yorkie-dependent organ growth. Curr Biol 2015; 25:679-689. [PMID: 25728696 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2014] [Revised: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coordinated multicellular growth during development is achieved by the sensing of spatial and nutritional boundaries. The conserved Hippo (Hpo) signaling pathway has been proposed to restrict tissue growth by perceiving mechanical constraints through actin cytoskeleton networks. The actin-associated LIM proteins Zyxin (Zyx) and Ajuba (Jub) have been linked to the control of tissue growth via regulation of Hpo signaling, but the study of Zyx has been hampered by a lack of genetic tools. RESULTS We generated a zyx mutant in Drosophila using TALEN endonucleases and used this to show that Zyx antagonizes the FERM-domain protein Expanded (Ex) to control tissue growth, eye differentiation, and F-actin accumulation. Zyx membrane targeting promotes the interaction between the transcriptional co-activator Yorkie (Yki) and the transcription factor Scalloped (Sd), leading to activation of Yki target gene expression and promoting tissue growth. Finally, we show that Zyx's growth-promoting function is dependent on its interaction with the actin-associated protein Enabled (Ena) via a conserved LPPPP motif and is antagonized by Capping Protein (CP). CONCLUSIONS Our results show that Zyx is a functional antagonist of Ex in growth control and establish a link between actin filament polymerization and Yki activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Gaspar
- Apoptosis and Proliferation Control Laboratory, Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LY, UK; Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Maxine V Holder
- Apoptosis and Proliferation Control Laboratory, Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LY, UK
| | - Birgit L Aerne
- Apoptosis and Proliferation Control Laboratory, Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LY, UK
| | - Florence Janody
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - Nicolas Tapon
- Apoptosis and Proliferation Control Laboratory, Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LY, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Brás-Pereira C, Casares F, Janody F. The retinal determination gene dachshund restricts cell proliferation by limiting the activity of the Homothorax-Yorkie complex. Development 2015; 142:1470-9. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.113340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The Drosophila transcriptional co-activator protein Yorkie and its vertebrate orthologs YAP and TAZ are potent oncogenes, whose activity is normally kept in check by the upstream Hippo kinase module. Upon its translocation into the nucleus, Yorkie forms complexes with several tissue-specific DNA-binding partners, which help to define the tissue-specific target genes of Yorkie. In the progenitor cells of the eye imaginal disc, the DNA-binding transcription factor Homothorax is required for Yorkie-promoted proliferation and survival through regulation of the bantam microRNA (miRNA). The transit from proliferating progenitors to cell cycle quiescent precursors is associated with the progressive loss of Homothorax and gain of Dachshund, a nuclear protein related to the Sno/Ski family of co-repressors. We have identified Dachshund as an inhibitor of Homothorax-Yorkie-mediated cell proliferation. Loss of dachshund induces Yorkie-dependent tissue overgrowth. Conversely, overexpressing dachshund inhibits tissue growth, prevents Yorkie or Homothorax-mediated cell proliferation of disc epithelia and restricts the transcriptional activity of the Yorkie-Homothorax complex on the bantam enhancer in Drosophila cells. In addition, Dachshund collaborates with the Decapentaplegic receptor Thickveins to repress Homothorax and Cyclin B expression in quiescent precursors. The antagonistic roles of Homothorax and Dachshund in Yorkie activity, together with their mutual repression, ensure that progenitor and precursor cells are under distinct proliferation regimes. Based on the crucial role of the human dachshund homolog DACH1 in tumorigenesis, our work suggests that DACH1 might prevent cellular transformation by limiting the oncogenic activity of YAP and/or TAZ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Brás-Pereira
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, Oeiras P-2780-156, Portugal
| | - Fernando Casares
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-UPO, Seville 41013, Spain
| | - Florence Janody
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, Oeiras P-2780-156, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Brás-Pereira C, Zhang T, Pignoni F, Janody F. Homeostasis of theDrosophilaadult retina by Actin-Capping Protein and the Hippo pathway. Commun Integr Biol 2014. [DOI: 10.4161/cib.16853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
|
11
|
Jezowska B, Fernández BG, Amândio AR, Duarte P, Mendes C, Brás-Pereira C, Janody F. A dual function of Drosophila capping protein on DE-cadherin maintains epithelial integrity and prevents JNK-mediated apoptosis. Dev Biol 2011; 360:143-59. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2011] [Revised: 08/29/2011] [Accepted: 09/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
|
12
|
Brás-Pereira C, Zhang T, Pignoni F, Janody F. Homeostasis of the Drosophila adult retina by actin-capping protein and the Hippo pathway. Commun Integr Biol 2011; 4:612-5. [PMID: 22046478 DOI: 10.4161/cib.4.5.16853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2011] [Accepted: 06/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The conserved Hippo signaling pathway regulates multiple cellular events, including tissue growth, cell fate decision and neuronal homeostasis. While the core Hippo kinase module appears to mediate all the effects of the pathway, various upstream inputs have been identified depending on tissue context. We have recently shown that, in the Drosophila wing imaginal disc, actin-Capping Protein and Hippo pathway activities inhibit F-actin accumulation. In turn, the reduction in F-actin sustains Hippo pathway activity, preventing Yorkie nuclear translocation and the upregulation of proliferation and survival genes. Here, we investigate the role of Capping Protein in growth-unrelated events controlled by the Hippo pathway. We provide evidence that loss of Capping Protein induces degeneration of the adult Drosophila retina through misregulation of the Hippo pathway. We propose a model by which F-actin dynamics might be involved in all processes that require the activity of the core Hippo kinase module.
Collapse
|
13
|
Janody F, Treisman JE. Requirements for mediator complex subunits distinguish three classes of notch target genes at the Drosophila wing margin. Dev Dyn 2011; 240:2051-9. [PMID: 21793099 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial and temporal gene regulation relies on a combinatorial code of sequence-specific transcription factors that must be integrated by the general transcriptional machinery. A key link between the two is the mediator complex, which consists of a core complex that reversibly associates with the accessory kinase module. We show here that genes activated by Notch signaling at the dorsal-ventral boundary of the Drosophila wing disc fall into three classes that are affected differently by the loss of kinase module subunits. One class requires all four kinase module subunits for activation, while the others require only Med12 and Med13, either for activation or for repression. These distinctions do not result from different requirements for the Notch coactivator Mastermind or the corepressors Hairless and Groucho. We propose that interactions with the kinase module through distinct cofactors allow the DNA-binding protein Suppressor of Hairless to carry out both its activator and repressor functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florence Janody
- Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine of the Skirball Institute, NYU School of Medicine, Department of Cell Biology, New York, New York, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Fernández BG, Gaspar P, Brás-Pereira C, Jezowska B, Rebelo SR, Janody F. Actin-Capping Protein and the Hippo pathway regulate F-actin and tissue growth in Drosophila. J Cell Sci 2011. [DOI: 10.1242/jcs.092866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
|
15
|
Fernández BG, Gaspar P, Brás-Pereira C, Jezowska B, Rebelo SR, Janody F. Actin-Capping Protein and the Hippo pathway regulate F-actin and tissue growth in Drosophila. Development 2011; 138:2337-46. [PMID: 21525075 DOI: 10.1242/dev.063545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 236] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The conserved Hippo tumor suppressor pathway is a key kinase cascade that controls tissue growth by regulating the nuclear import and activity of the transcription co-activator Yorkie. Here, we report that the actin-Capping Protein αβ heterodimer, which regulates actin polymerization, also functions to suppress inappropriate tissue growth by inhibiting Yorkie activity. Loss of Capping Protein activity results in abnormal accumulation of apical F-actin, reduced Hippo pathway activity and the ectopic expression of several Yorkie target genes that promote cell survival and proliferation. Reduction of two other actin-regulatory proteins, Cofilin and the cyclase-associated protein Capulet, cause abnormal F-actin accumulation, but only the loss of Capulet, like that of Capping Protein, induces ectopic Yorkie activity. Interestingly, F-actin also accumulates abnormally when Hippo pathway activity is reduced or abolished, independently of Yorkie activity, whereas overexpression of the Hippo pathway component expanded can partially reverse the abnormal accumulation of F-actin in cells depleted for Capping Protein. Taken together, these findings indicate a novel interplay between Hippo pathway activity and actin filament dynamics that is essential for normal growth control.
Collapse
|
16
|
Roignant JY, Legent K, Janody F, Treisman JE. The transcriptional co-factor Chip acts with LIM-homeodomain proteins to set the boundary of the eye field in Drosophila. Development 2010; 137:273-81. [PMID: 20040493 DOI: 10.1242/dev.041244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Development involves the establishment of boundaries between fields specified to differentiate into distinct tissues. The Drosophila larval eye-antennal imaginal disc must be subdivided into regions that differentiate into the adult eye, antenna and head cuticle. We have found that the transcriptional co-factor Chip is required for cells at the ventral eye-antennal disc border to take on a head cuticle fate; clones of Chip mutant cells in this region instead form outgrowths that differentiate into ectopic eye tissue. Chip acts independently of the transcription factor Homothorax, which was previously shown to promote head cuticle development in the same region. Chip and its vertebrate CLIM homologues have been shown to form complexes with LIM-homeodomain transcription factors, and the domain of Chip that mediates these interactions is required for its ability to suppress the eye fate. We show that two LIM-homeodomain proteins, Arrowhead and Lim1, are expressed in the region of the eye-antennal disc affected in Chip mutants, and that both require Chip for their ability to suppress photoreceptor differentiation when misexpressed in the eye field. Loss-of-function studies support the model that Arrowhead and Lim1 act redundantly, using Chip as a co-factor, to prevent retinal differentiation in regions of the eye disc destined to become ventral head tissue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Yves Roignant
- Kimmel Center for Biology and Medicine of the Skirball Institute, NYU School of Medicine, Department of Cell Biology, 540 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Gates J, Nowotarski SH, Yin H, Mahaffey JP, Bridges T, Herrera C, Homem CCF, Janody F, Montell DJ, Peifer M. Enabled and Capping protein play important roles in shaping cell behavior during Drosophila oogenesis. Dev Biol 2009; 333:90-107. [PMID: 19576200 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2009] [Revised: 06/20/2009] [Accepted: 06/22/2009] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
During development, cells craft an impressive array of actin-based structures, mediating events as diverse as cytokinesis, apical constriction, and cell migration. One challenge is to determine how cells regulate actin assembly and disassembly to carry out these cell behaviors. During Drosophila oogenesis diverse cell behaviors are seen in the soma and germline. We used oogenesis to explore developmental roles of two important actin regulators: Enabled/VASP proteins and Capping protein. We found that Enabled plays an important role in cortical integrity of nurse cells, formation of robust bundled actin filaments in late nurse cells that facilitate nurse cell dumping, and migration of somatic border cells. During nurse cell dumping, Enabled localizes to barbed ends of the nurse cell actin filaments, suggesting its mechanism of action. We further pursued this mechanism using mutant Enabled proteins, each affecting one of its protein domains. These data suggest critical roles for the EVH2 domain and its tetramerization subdomain, while the EVH1 domain appears less critical. Enabled appears to be negatively regulated during oogenesis by Abelson kinase. We also explored the function of Capping protein. This revealed important roles in oocyte determination, nurse cell cortical integrity and nurse cell dumping, and support the idea that Capping protein and Enabled act antagonistically during dumping. Together these data reveal places that these actin regulators shape oogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie Gates
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Abstract
Tissue patterning must be translated into morphogenesis through cell shape changes mediated by remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. We have found that Capping protein alpha (Cpa) and Capping protein beta (Cpb), which prevent extension of the barbed ends of actin filaments, are specifically required in the wing blade primordium of the Drosophila wing disc. cpa or cpb mutant cells in this region, but not in the remainder of the wing disc, are extruded from the epithelium and undergo apoptosis. Excessive actin filament polymerization is not sufficient to explain this phenotype, as loss of Cofilin or Cyclase-associated protein does not cause cell extrusion or death. Misexpression of Vestigial, the transcription factor that specifies the wing blade, both increases cpa transcription and makes cells dependent on cpa for their maintenance in the epithelium. Our results suggest that Vestigial specifies the cytoskeletal changes that lead to morphogenesis of the adult wing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florence Janody
- Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille Luminy, UMR6216 - Case 907, Parc Scientific de Luminy, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France.
| | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Roignant JY, Hamel S, Janody F, Treisman JE. The novel SAM domain protein Aveugle is required for Raf activation in the Drosophila EGF receptor signaling pathway. Genes Dev 2006; 20:795-806. [PMID: 16600911 PMCID: PMC1447592 DOI: 10.1101/gad.1390506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Activation of the Raf kinase by GTP-bound Ras is a poorly understood step in receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathways. One such pathway, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway, is critical for cell differentiation, survival, and cell cycle regulation in many systems, including the Drosophila eye. We have identified a mutation in a novel gene, aveugle, based on its requirement for normal photoreceptor differentiation. The phenotypes of aveugle mutant cells in the eye and wing imaginal discs resemble those caused by reduction of EGFR pathway function. We show that aveugle is required between ras and raf for EGFR signaling in the eye and for mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation in cell culture. aveugle encodes a small protein with a sterile alpha motif (SAM) domain that can physically interact with the scaffold protein connector enhancer of Ksr (Cnk). We propose that Aveugle acts together with Cnk to promote Raf activation, perhaps by recruiting an activating kinase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Yves Roignant
- Skirball Institute for Biomolecular Medicine and Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Janody F, Lee JD, Jahren N, Hazelett DJ, Benlali A, Miura GI, Draskovic I, Treisman JE. A mosaic genetic screen reveals distinct roles for trithorax and polycomb group genes in Drosophila eye development. Genetics 2004; 166:187-200. [PMID: 15020417 PMCID: PMC1470713 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.166.1.187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The wave of differentiation that traverses the Drosophila eye disc requires rapid transitions in gene expression that are controlled by a number of signaling molecules also required in other developmental processes. We have used a mosaic genetic screen to systematically identify autosomal genes required for the normal pattern of photoreceptor differentiation, independent of their requirements for viability. In addition to genes known to be important for eye development and to known and novel components of the Hedgehog, Decapentaplegic, Wingless, Epidermal growth factor receptor, and Notch signaling pathways, we identified several members of the Polycomb and trithorax classes of genes encoding general transcriptional regulators. Mutations in these genes disrupt the transitions between zones along the anterior-posterior axis of the eye disc that express different combinations of transcription factors. Different trithorax group genes have very different mutant phenotypes, indicating that target genes differ in their requirements for chromatin remodeling, histone modification, and coactivation factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florence Janody
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Abstract
The organizing centers for Drosophila imaginal disc development are created at straight boundaries between compartments; these are maintained by differences in cell affinity controlled by selector genes and intercellular signals. skuld and kohtalo encode homologs of TRAP240 and TRAP230, the two largest subunits of the Drosophila mediator complex; mutations in either gene cause identical phenotypes. We show here that both genes are required to establish normal cell affinity differences at the anterior-posterior and dorsal-ventral compartment boundaries of the wing disc. Mutant cells cross from the anterior to the posterior compartment, and can distort the dorsal-ventral boundary in either the dorsal or ventral direction. The Skuld and Kohtalo proteins physically interact in vivo and have synergistic effects when overexpressed, consistent with a skuld kohtalo double-mutant phenotype that is indistinguishable from either single mutant. We suggest that these two subunits do not participate in all of the activities of the mediator complex, but form a submodule that is required to regulate specific target genes, including those that control cell affinity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florence Janody
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine and Department of Cell Biology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Janody F, Sturny R, Schaeffer V, Azou Y, Dostatni N. Two distinct domains of Bicoid mediate its transcriptional downregulation by the Torso pathway. Development 2001; 128:2281-90. [PMID: 11493547 DOI: 10.1242/dev.128.12.2281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The transcriptional activity of the Bicoid morphogen is directly downregulated by the Torso signal transduction cascade at the anterior pole of the Drosophila embryo. This regulation does not involve the homeodomain or direct phosphorylation of Bicoid. We analyse the transcriptional regulation of Bicoid in response to the Torso pathway, using Bicoid variants and fusion proteins between the Bicoid domains and the Gal4 DNA-binding domain. We show that Bicoid possesses three autonomous activation domains. Two of these domains, the serine/threonine-rich and the acidic domains, are downregulated by Torso, whereas the third activation domain, which is rich in glutamine, is not. The alanine-rich domain, previously described as an activation domain in vitro, has a repressive activity that is independent of Torso. Thus, Bicoid downregulation by Torso results from a competition between the glutamine-rich domain that is insensitive to Torso and the serine/threonine-rich and acidic activation domains downregulated by Torso. The alanine-rich domain contributes to this process indirectly by reducing the global activity of the protein and in particular the activity of the glutamine-rich domain that might otherwise prevent downregulation by Torso.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Janody
- Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille, Laboratoire de Génétique et Physiologie du Développement, Université de la Méditerrannée, Luminy, Case 907, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Janody F, Reischl J, Dostatni N. Persistence of Hunchback in the terminal region of the Drosophila blastoderm embryo impairs anterior development. Development 2000; 127:1573-82. [PMID: 10725234 DOI: 10.1242/dev.127.8.1573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Anterior terminal development is controlled by several zygotic genes that are positively regulated at the anterior pole of Drosophila blastoderm embryos by the anterior (bicoid) and the terminal (torso) maternal determinants. Most Bicoid target genes, however, are first expressed at syncitial blastoderm as anterior caps, which retract from the anterior pole upon activation of Torso. To better understand the interaction between Bicoid and Torso, a derivative of the Gal4/UAS system was used to selectively express the best characterised Bicoid target gene, hunchback, at the anterior pole when its expression should be repressed by Torso. Persistence of hunchback at the pole mimics most of the torso phenotype and leads to repression at early stages of a labral (cap'n'collar) and two foregut (wingless and hedgehog) determinants that are positively controlled by bicoid and torso. These results uncovered an antagonism between hunchback and bicoid at the anterior pole, whereas the two genes are known to act in concert for most anterior segmented development. They suggest that the repression of hunchback by torso is required to prevent this antagonism and to promote anterior terminal development, depending mostly on bicoid activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Janody
- LGPD, IBDM, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Case 907, Marseille, France
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Janody F, Sturny R, Catala F, Desplan C, Dostatni N. Phosphorylation of bicoid on MAP-kinase sites: contribution to its interaction with the torso pathway. Development 2000; 127:279-89. [PMID: 10603346 DOI: 10.1242/dev.127.2.279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The Torso signal transduction pathway exhibits two opposite effects on the activity of the Bicoid (Bcd) morphogen: (i) Bcd function is repressed by Torso (Tor) at the anterior pole of the embryo leading to a retraction of the expression of many Bcd targets from the most anterior region of the embryo, where the Tor tyrosine kinase receptor is activated, and (ii) Bcd function is strengthened by Tor in a broader anterior region, as indicated by a shift of the posterior border of Bcd targets towards the anterior pole in embryos deprived from Tor activity. Anterior repression of Bcd targets was not observed in embryos lacking maternal contribution of D-sor, which acts downstream of Tor and encodes a MAP-kinase kinase. This indicates that the Ras signalling cascade is directly involved in this process, although the known transcriptional effectors of the Tor pathway, tll and hkb, are not (Ronchi, E., Treisman, J., Dostatni, N., Struhl, G. and Desplan, C. (1993) Cell 74, 347–355). Bcd is a good in vitro substrate for phosphorylation by MAP-kinase and phosphorylation of the protein occur in vivo on MAP-kinase sites. In the presence of a Bcd mutant that could no longer be phosphorylated by MAP-kinase, expression of Bcd targets remained repressed by Tor at the pole while strengthening of Bcd activity was reduced. These experiments indicate that phosphorylation of Bcd by MAP-kinase is likely to be required for the Tor pathway to induce its full positive effect on Bcd. This suggests that Tor signalling acts at a distance from the anterior pole by direct modification of the diffusing Bcd morphogen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Janody
- LGPD, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Case 907, France
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Schaeffer V, Janody F, Loss C, Desplan C, Wimmer EA. Bicoid functions without its TATA-binding protein-associated factor interaction domains. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1999; 96:4461-6. [PMID: 10200284 PMCID: PMC16354 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.8.4461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Four maternal systems are known to pattern the early Drosophila embryo. The key component of the anterior system is the homeodomain protein Bicoid (Bcd). Bcd needs the contribution of another anterior morphogen, Hunchback (Hb), to function properly: Bcd and Hb synergize to organize anterior development. A molecular mechanism for this synergy has been proposed to involve specific interactions of Bcd and Hb with TATA-binding protein-associated factors (TAFIIs) that are components of the general transcription machinery. Bcd contains three putative activation domains: a glutamine-rich region, which interacts in vitro with TAFII110; an alanine-rich domain, which targets TAFII60; and a C-terminal acidic region, which has an unknown role. We have generated flies carrying bcd transgenes lacking one or several of these domains to test their function in vivo. Surprisingly, a bcd transgene that lacks all three putative activation domains is able to rescue the bcdE1 null phenotype to viability. Moreover, the development of these embryos is not affected by the presence of dominant negative mutations in TAFII110 or TAFII60. This means that the interactions observed in vitro between Bcd and TAFII60 or TAFII110 aid transcriptional activation but are dispensable for normal development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V Schaeffer
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, Box 151, New York, NY 10021-6399, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Sanchez C, Lachaize C, Janody F, Bellon B, Röder L, Euzenat J, Rechenmann F, Jacq B. Grasping at molecular interactions and genetic networks in Drosophila melanogaster using FlyNets, an Internet database. Nucleic Acids Res 1999; 27:89-94. [PMID: 9847149 PMCID: PMC148104 DOI: 10.1093/nar/27.1.89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
FlyNets (http://gifts.univ-mrs.fr/FlyNets/FlyNets_home_page.++ +html) is a WWW database describing molecular interactions (protein-DNA, protein-RNA and protein-protein) in the fly Drosophila melanogaster. It is composed of two parts, as follows. (i) FlyNets-base is a specialized database which focuses on molecular interactions involved in Drosophila development. The information content of FlyNets-base is distributed among several specific lines arranged according to a GenBank-like format and grouped into five thematic zones to improve human readability. The FlyNets database achieves a high level of integration with other databases such as FlyBase, EMBL, GenBank and SWISS-PROT through numerous hyperlinks. (ii) FlyNets-list is a very simple and more general databank, the long-term goal of which is to report on any published molecular interaction occuring in the fly, giving direct web access to corresponding s in Medline and in FlyBase. In the context of genome projects, databases describing molecular interactions and genetic networks will provide a link at the functional level between the genome, the proteome and the transcriptome worlds of different organisms. Interaction databases therefore aim at describing the contents, structure, function and behaviour of what we herein define as the interactome world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Sanchez
- Laboratoire de Génétique et Physiologie du Développement, IBDM, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, CNRS Case 907, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Mohr E, Horn F, Janody F, Sanchez C, Pillet V, Bellon B, Röder L, Jacq B. FlyNets and GIF-DB, two internet databases for molecular interactions in Drosophila melanogaster. Nucleic Acids Res 1998; 26:89-93. [PMID: 9399807 PMCID: PMC147170 DOI: 10.1093/nar/26.1.89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
GIF-DB and FlyNets are two WWW databases describing molecular (protein-DNA, protein-RNA and protein-protein) interactions occuring in the fly Drosophila melanogaster (http://gifts.univ-mrs.fr/GIFTS_home_page.html ). GIF-DB is a specialised database which focuses on molecular interactions involved in the process of embryonic pattern formation, whereas FlyNets is a new and more general database, the long-term goal of which is to report on any published molecular interaction occuring in the fly. The information content of both databases is distributed in specific lines arranged into an EMBL- (or GenBank-) like format. These databases achieve a high level of integration with other databases such as FlyBase, EMBL, GenBank and SWISS-PROT through numerous hyperlinks. In addition, we also describe SOS-DGDB, a new collection of annotated Drosophila gene sequences, in which binding sites for regulatory proteins are directly visible on the DNA primary sequence and hyperlinked both to GIF-DB and TRANSFAC database entries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Mohr
- Laboratoire de Génétique et Physiologie du Développement, IBDM, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, CNRS Case 907, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Jacq B, Horn F, Janody F, Gompel N, Serralbo O, Mohr E, Leroy C, Bellon B, Fasano L, Laurenti P, Röder L. GIF-DB, a WWW database on gene interactions involved in Drosophila melanogaster development. Nucleic Acids Res 1997; 25:67-71. [PMID: 9016506 PMCID: PMC146365 DOI: 10.1093/nar/25.1.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
GIF-DB (Gene Interactions in the Fly Database) is a new WWW database (http://www-biol.univ-mrs.fr/ approximately lgpd/GIFTS_home_page. html ) describing gene molecular interactions involved in the process of embryonic pattern formation in the flyDrosophila melanogaster. The detailed information is distributed in specific lines arranged into an EMBL- (or SWISS-PROT-) like format. GIF-DB achieves a high level of integration with other databases such as FlyBase, EMBL and SWISS-PROT through numerous hyperlinks. The original concept of interaction databases examplified by GIF-DB could be extended to other biological subjects and organisms so as to study gene regulatory networks in an evolutionary perspective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B Jacq
- Laboratoire de Génétique et Physiologie du Développement, IBDM, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, CNRS Case 907, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|