Title

Genetic interactions between the RhoA and stubble-stubbloid loci suggest a role for a type II transmembrane serine protease in intracellular signaling during Drosophila imaginal disc morphogenesis

Authors

Authors

C. A. Bayer; S. R. Halsell; J. W. Fristrom; D. P. Kiehart;L. von Kalm

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

Genetics

Keywords

LIGHT-CHAIN KINASE; NONMUSCLE MYOSIN FUNCTION; CELL-SHAPE CHANGES; BROAD-COMPLEX; EPITHELIAL MORPHOGENESIS; ACTIN CYTOSKELETON; LEG; MORPHOGENESIS; FAMILY GTPASES; DORSAL CLOSURE; HEAVY-CHAIN; Genetics & Heredity

Abstract

The Drosophila RhoA (Rho1) GTPase is essential for postembryonic morphogenesis of leg and wing imaginal discs. Mutations in RhoA enhance leg and wing defects associated with mutations in zipper, the gene encoding the heavy chain of nonmuscle myosin 11. We demonstrate here that mutations affecting the RhoA signaling pathway also interact genetically with mutations in the Stubble-stubbloid (Sb-sbd) locus that encodes an unusual type II transmembrane serine protease required for normal leg and wing morphogenesis. In addition, a leg malformation phenotype associated with overexpression of Sb-sbd in prepupal leg discs is suppressed when RhoA gene dose is reduced, suggesting that RhoA and Sb-sbd act in a common pathway during leg morphogenesis. We also characterized six mutations identified as enhancers of zipper mutant leg defects. Three of these genes encode known members of the RhoA signaling pathway (RhoA, DRhoGEF2, and zipper). The remaining three enhancer of zipper mutations interact genetically with both RhoA and Sb-sbd mutations, suggesting that they encode additional components; of the RhoA signaling pathway in imaginal discs. Our results provide evidence that the type II transmembrane serine proteases, a class of proteins linked to human developmental abnormalities and pathology, may be associated with intracellular signaling required for normal development.

Journal Title

Genetics

Volume

165

Issue/Number

3

Publication Date

1-1-2003

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

1417

Last Page

1432

WOS Identifier

WOS:000187459100038

ISSN

0016-6731

Share

COinS