The endocytic protein alpha-Adaptin is required for numb-mediated asymmetric cell division in Drosophila.
During asymmetric cell division in Drosophila sensory organ precursor cells, the Numb protein localizes asymmetrically and segregates into one daughter cell, where it influences cell fate by repressing signal transduction via the Notch receptor. We show here that Numb acts by polarizing the distribution of alpha-Adaptin, a protein involved in receptor-mediated endocytosis. alpha-Adaptin binds to Numb and localizes asymmetrically in a Numb-dependent fashion. Mutant forms of alpha-Adaptin that no longer bind to Numb fail to localize asymmetrically and cause numb-like defects in asymmetric cell division. Our results suggest a model in which Numb influences cell fate by downregulating Notch through polarized receptor-mediated endocytosis, since Numb also binds to the intracellular domain of Notch.
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Dr. Bohr Gasse 7, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
Daniela
D
Berdnik
Tibor
T
Török
Marcos
M
González-Gaitán
Juergen A
JA
Knoblich
D033965:Adaptor Protein Complex alpha Subunits; D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002451:Cell Compartmentation / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics*; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics*; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D007605:Juvenile Hormones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000235:genetics; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D012679:Sense Organs / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D033965:Adaptor Protein Complex alpha Subunits; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007605:Juvenile Hormones; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C497759:N protein, Drosophila; D051880:Receptors, Notch; C060606:numb protein, Drosophila