Drosophila deltex mediates suppressor of Hairless-independent and late-endosomal activation of Notch signaling

Development. 2004 Nov;131(22):5527-37. doi: 10.1242/dev.01448. Epub 2004 Oct 20.

Abstract

Notch (N) signaling is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism that regulates many cell-fate decisions. deltex (dx) encodes an E3-ubiquitin ligase that binds to the intracellular domain of N and positively regulates N signaling. However, the precise mechanism of Dx action is unknown. Here, we found that Dx was required and sufficient to activate the expression of gene targets of the canonical Su(H)-dependent N signaling pathway. Although Dx required N and a cis-acting element that overlaps with the Su(H)-binding site, Dx activated a target enhancer of N signaling, the dorsoventral compartment boundary enhancer of vestigial (vgBE), in a manner that was independent of the Delta (Dl)/Serrate (Ser) ligands- or Su(H). Dx caused N to be moved from the apical cell surface into the late-endosome, where it accumulated stably and co-localized with Dx. Consistent with this, the dx gene was required for the presence of N in the endocytic vesicles. Finally, blocking the N transportation from the plasma membrane to the late-endosome by a dominant-negative form of Rab5 inhibited the Dx-mediated activation of N signaling, suggesting that the accumulation of N in the late-endosome was required for the Dx-mediated Su(H)-independent N signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Polarity
  • Cytoplasmic Vesicles / metabolism
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / cytology
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism*
  • Endosomes / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Protein Transport
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Time Factors
  • Wings, Animal / metabolism

Substances

  • DX protein, Drosophila
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • N protein, Drosophila
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Su(H) protein, Drosophila