The dorsal-open group gene raw is required for restricted DJNK signaling during closure.
During dorsal closure in Drosophila melanogaster, cells of the lateral epidermis migrate over the amnioserosa to encase the embryo. At least three classes of dorsal-open group gene products are necessary for this morphogenetic movement. Class I genes code for structural proteins that effect changes in epidermal cell shape and motility. Class II and III genes code for regulatory components of closure: Class II genes encode Drosophila Jun amino (N)-terminal kinase (DJNK) signaling molecules and Class III genes encode Decapentaplegic-mediated signaling molecules. All characterized dorsal-open group gene products function in the epidermis. Here we report a molecular and genetic characterization of raw, a newly defined member of the Class II dorsal-open group genes. We show that the novel protein encoded by raw is required for restriction of DJNK signaling to leading edge epidermal cells as well as for proper development of the amnioserosa. Taken together, our results demonstrate a role for Raw in restriction of epidermal signaling during closure and suggest that this effect may be mediated via the amnioserosa.
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Department of Human Genetics, Eccles Institute of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA. anthea. letsou@genetics.utah.edu.
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D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000650:Amnion; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D004817:Epidermis / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila; C115863:raw protein, Drosophila; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases