Modulation of Hedgehog target gene expression by the Fused serine-threonine kinase in wing imaginal discs.
The Fused (Fu) serine-threonine kinase and the Suppressor of fused (Su(fu)) product are part of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway both in embryos and in imaginal discs. In wing imaginal discs, the Hh signal induces Cubitus interruptus (Ci) accumulation and activates patched (ptc) and decapentaplegic (dpp) expression along the anterior/posterior (A/P) boundary. In this paper, we have examined the role of the Fu and Su(fu) proteins in the regulation of Hh target gene expression in wing imaginal discs, by using different classes of fu alleles and an amorphic Su(fu) mutation. We show that, at the A/P boundary, Fu kinase activity is involved in the maintenance of high ptc expression and in the induction of late anterior engrailed (en) expression. These combined effects can account for the modulation of Ci accumulation and for the precise localization of the Dpp morphogen stripe. In contrast, in more anterior cells which do not receive Hh signal, we show that Fu plays a role independent of its kinase function in the regulation of Ci accumulation. In these cells, Fu may be involved in the stabilization of a large protein complex which is probably responsible for the regulation of Ci cleavage and/or targeting to nucleus. We propose that the Fused function is necessary for the activation of full-length Ci and counteracts the negative Su(fu) effect on the pathway, leading to en, ptc and dpp expression.
Alves
G
G
Laboratoire Génétique du Développement et Evolution, Institut Jacques Monod, C.N.R.S., Université Paris VII, Université Paris VI, 2 place Jussieu, 75251, Paris, Cedex 05, France.
Limbourg-Bouchon
B
B
Tricoire
H
H
Brissard-Zahraoui
J
J
Lamour-Isnard
C
C
Busson
D
D
D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000196:embryology* / Q000201:enzymology
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C063459:En protein, Drosophila; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C097059:Su(fu) protein, Drosophila; D014157:Transcription Factors; C092937:ci protein, Drosophila; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila; C070844:ptc protein, Drosophila; C077245:hh protein, Drosophila; C085770:fu protein, Drosophila; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases