Genes required for compartment boundary formation
Final Report Abstract
The formation of straight and sharp compartment boundaries separating groups of cells with distinct fates and functions is an evolutionarily conserved strategy during animal development. The molecular mechanisms that underlie the formation and maintenance of compartment boundaries, however, remain poorly understood. The main aim of this project was to identify and characterize novel genes required for the sorting out of cells at the anteroposterior compartment boundary (AP boundary) in Drosophila wing imaginal discs. Two specific aims were initially proposed. First, to screen available transgenic RNA interference lines for segregation defects at the AP boundary. Second, to validate positive RNAi lines and to characterize the targeted genes. In this project, we have screened 3114 transgenic RNAi lines targeting 2863 genes for segregation defects at the AP boundary. We have identified three RNAi lines that resulted in segregation defects. All three lines target the Eph gene, which was previously not known to have a function in this process. We have validated the role of Eph in segregation at the AP boundary and have performed an initial characterization of its function. The Eph gene encodes for the single Eph receptor tyrosine kinase that is present in Drosophila. Interestingly, the Eph receptor tyrosine kinase is part of an evolutionarily conserved family of signal transducers that has previously been shown to be important for maintaining compartment boundaries in vertebrate embryos. Our results thus suggest that Eph receptors play important roles in shaping compartment boundaries not only in vertebrates, but also during insect development.
Publications
- (2014). An RNA interference screen for genes required to shape the anteroposterior compartment boundary in Drosophila identifies the Eph receptor. PLoS One, 9(12), e114340
Umetsu, D., Dunst, S., and Dahmann, C.
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0114340)
