The Drosophila RCC1 homolog, Bj1, regulates nucleocytoplasmic transport and neural differentiation during Drosophila development.
The Bj1 gene encodes the Drosophila homolog of RCC1, the guanine-nucleotide exchange factor for RanGTPase. Here, we provide the first phenotypic characterization of a RCC1 homolog in a developmental model system. We identified Bj1 (dRCC1) in a genetic screen to identify mutations that alter central nervous system development. We find that zygotic dRCC1 mutant embryos exhibit specific defects in the development and differentiation of lateral CNS neurons although cell division and the cell cycle appear grossly normal. dRCC1 mutant nerve cords contain abnormally large cells with compartmentalized nuclei and exhibit increased transcription in the lateral CNS. As RCC1 is an important component of the nucleocytoplasmic transport machinery, we find that dRCC1 function is required for nuclear import of nuclear localization signal sequence (NLS)-carrying cargo molecules. Finally, we show that dRCC1 is required for cell proliferation and/or survival during germline, eye and wing development and that dRCC1 appears to facilitate apoptosis.
Shi
Wei-Yang
WY
Program in Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Skeath
James B
JB
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; C108880:HID protein, Drosophila; D009479:Neuropeptides; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; C068687:RCC1 protein, Drosophila