Antagonizing scalloped with a novel vestigial construct reveals an important role for scalloped in Drosophila melanogaster leg, eye and optic lobe development

Genetics. 2007 Feb;175(2):659-69. doi: 10.1534/genetics.106.063966. Epub 2006 Nov 16.

Abstract

Scalloped (SD), a TEA/ATTS-domain-containing protein, is required for the proper development of Drosophila melanogaster. Despite being expressed in a variety of tissues, most of the work on SD has been restricted to understanding its role and function in patterning the adult wing. To gain a better understanding of its role in development, we generated sd(47M) flip-in mitotic clones. The mitotic clones had developmental defects in the leg and eye. Further, by removing the VG domains involved in activation, we created a reagent (VGDeltaACT) that disrupts the ability of SD to form a functional transcription factor complex and produced similar phenotypes to the flip-in mitotic clones. The VGDeltaACT construct also disrupted adult CNS development. Expression of the VGDeltaACT construct in the wing alters the cellular localization of VG and produces a mutant phenotype, indicating that the construct is able to antagonize the normal function of the SD/VG complex. Expression of the protein:protein interaction portion of SD is also able to elicit similar phenotypes, suggesting that SD interacts with other cofactors in the leg, eye, and adult CNS. Furthermore, antagonizing SD in larval tissues results in cell death, indicating that SD may also have a role in cell survival.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Survival
  • Clone Cells
  • Drosophila Proteins / chemistry
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / growth & development*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / ultrastructure
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / metabolism
  • Extremities / growth & development*
  • Eye / cytology
  • Eye / growth & development*
  • Eye / ultrastructure
  • Eye Abnormalities
  • Mitosis
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Optic Lobe, Nonmammalian / cytology
  • Optic Lobe, Nonmammalian / growth & development*
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Wings, Animal / cytology
  • Wings, Animal / growth & development

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Mutant Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • sd protein, Drosophila
  • vg protein, Drosophila