Evidence that nervy, the Drosophila homolog of ETO/MTG8, promotes mechanosensory organ development by enhancing Notch signaling.
In the imaginal tissue of developing fruit flies, achaete (ac) and scute (sc) expression defines a group of neurally-competent cells called the proneural cluster (PNC). From the PNC, a single cell, the sensory organ precursor (SOP), is selected as the adult mechanosensory organ precursor. The SOP expresses high levels of ac and sc and sends a strong Delta (Dl) signal, which activates the Notch (N) receptor in neighboring cells, preventing them from also adopting a neural fate. Previous work has determined how ac and sc expression in the PNC and SOP is regulated, but less is known about SOP-specific factors that promote SOP fate. Here, we describe the role of nervy (nvy), the Drosophila homolog of the mammalian proto-oncogene ETO, in mechanosensory organ formation. Nvy is specifically expressed in the SOP, where it interacts with the Ac and Sc DNA binding partner Daughterless (Da) and affects the expression of Ac and Sc targets. nvy loss- and gain-of-function experiments suggest that nvy reinforces, but is not absolutely required for, the SOP fate. We propose a model in which nvy acts downstream of ac and sc to promote the SOP fate by transiently strengthening the Dl signal emanating from the SOP.
Wildonger
Jill
J
Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Mann
Richard S
RS
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009024:Morphogenesis; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D000075142:RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D000075142:RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D014157:Transcription Factors; C090080:Da protein, Drosophila; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; C082222:RUNX1T1 protein, human; C064045:delta protein; C482446:nvy protein, Drosophila; C089197:sc protein, Drosophila