Specificity of FGF signaling in cell migration in Drosophila.
We wanted to investigate the relationship between receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) activated signaling pathways and the induction of cell migration. Using Drosophila tracheal and mesodermal cell migration as model systems, we find that the intracellular domain of the fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) Breathless (Btl) and Heartless (Htl) can be functionally replaced by the intracellular domains of Torso (Tor) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). These hybrid receptors can also rescue cell migration in the absence of Downstream of FGFR (Dof), a cytoplasmic protein essential for FGF signaling. These results demonstrate that tracheal and mesodermal cells respond during a specific time window to a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signal with directed migration, independent of the presence or absence of Dof. We discuss our findings in the light of the recent findings that RTKs generate a generic signal that is interpreted in responding cells according to their developmental history.
Dossenbach
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Abteilung Zellbiologie, Biozentrum der Universität Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
Röck
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Affolter
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D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000502:physiology; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C115576:stumps protein, Drosophila; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; C102301:BTL protein, Drosophila; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases