Drosophila Jun kinase regulates expression of decapentaplegic via the ETS-domain protein Aop and the AP-1 transcription factor DJun during dorsal closure.
During Drosophila embryogenesis, ectodermal cells of the lateral epithelium stretch in a coordinated fashion to internalize the amnioserosa cells and close the embryo dorsally. This process, dorsal closure, requires two signaling pathways: the Drosophila Jun-amino-terminal kinase (DJNK) pathway and the Dpp pathway. We have identified mutations in DJun and show that DJNK controls dorsal closure by activating DJun and inactivating the ETS repressor Aop/Yan by phosphorylation. DJun and Aop regulate dpp expression in the most dorsal row of cells. Secreted Dpp then instructs more ventrally located cells to stretch. Our results provide a causal link between the DJNK and Dpp pathways during dorsal closure. Interestingly, in vertebrates, transforming growth factor-beta and c-Jun regulate collagenase gene expression during wound healing, a process that also involves the closing of an epithelial sheath.
Riesgo-Escovar
J R
JR
Zoologisches Institut, Universität Zürich, Switzerland.
Hafen
E
E
D000818:Animals; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D009154:Mutation; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / Q000196:embryology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
C076188:AOP protein, Drosophila; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila; D011494:Protein Kinases; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases