Bcl-2 and Bax mammalian regulators of apoptosis are functional in Drosophila.
Studies of apoptosis in C. elegans have allowed the identification of three genes, ced-3, ced-4 and ced-9. Their products constitute the components of an induction pathway of apoptosis conserved in the nematode and mammals. In Drosophila, homologues have been found for CED-3, CED-4 and CED-9. CED-9 belongs to the Bcl-2 family which includes negative (Bcl-2) and positive (Bax) regulators of apoptosis. The recently discovered Bcl-2 family member named Drob-1 acts as a positive regulator of cell death. To address whether a Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic pathway exists in the fly, we studied the effects of expressing the mammalian genes bcl-2 in Drosophila. In embryos, expression of bcl-2 inhibits developmental and X-ray-induced apoptosis. Expressing bcl-2 or the pro-apoptotic mammalian bax in the developing eye and wing alters these structures, bcl-2 increasing the number of cells, while bax reduces the number of cells. In addition, the functional interaction between Bcl-2 and Bax is conserved. These results indicate that factors necessary for the activity of bcl-2 and bax are present in Drosophila. Therefore, a Bcl-2 pathway for inhibition of cell death may exist in the fly.
Gaumer
S
S
CNRS - UPRES-A 8087, Université de Versailles/Saint-Quentin, 78035 Versailles cedex, France.
Guénal
I
I
Brun
S
S
Théodore
L
L
Mignotte
B
B
D000165:Acridine Orange / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000528:radiation effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D005123:Eye / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015870:Gene Expression; D017344:Genes, Insect; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
C494826:BAX protein, human; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D020169:Caspases; D000165:Acridine Orange