Evidence for a glycosaminoglycan on the nudel protein important for dorsoventral patterning of the drosophila embryo.
Dorsoventral patterning of the Drosophila embryo requires Nudel, a large mosaic protein with a protease domain. Previous studies have implicated Nudel's protease domain as the trigger of a proteolytic cascade that activates the Toll signaling pathway to establish dorsoventral polarity in the embryo. However, the function of other regions of Nudel has been unclear. By using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and site-directed mutagenesis, we have obtained evidence that the N-terminal region of Nudel contains a site for glycosaminoglycan (GAG) attachment that is required for dorsoventral patterning. Disruption of this site blocks a disulfide-based association between N- and C-terminal Nudel polypeptides and proteolytic activation of Nudel's protease domain. We discuss how a GAG chain on Nudel might be required for Nudel protease activation.
Turcotte
Cynthia L
CL
Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Hashimoto
Carl
C
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019076:Transgenes
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C115869:ndl protein, Drosophila