Vertebrate Rel proteins exhibit Dorsal-like activities in early Drosophila embryogenesis.
In Drosophila, the Toll/Dorsal pathway triggers the nuclear entry of the Rel protein Dorsal, which controls dorsoventral patterning in early embryogenesis and plays an important role in innate immunity of the adult fly. In vertebrates, the homologous Toll/IL-1 receptor signaling pathway directs the nuclear localization of Rel/NF-kappaB complexes, which activate genes involved in proliferation, apoptosis, and immune response. Recently, first evidence has been reported for the activity of vertebrate Rel proteins and a Toll-like signaling pathway in the dorsoventral patterning process of Xenopus laevis embryos. Given the evolutionary divergence of the fly and frog model organisms, these findings raise the question, to what extent the effector functions of this pathway have been conserved? Here, we report the ability of two Xenopus Rel proteins to partially substitute for several, but not all, functions of the Dorsal protein in Drosophila embryos. Our results suggest the interaction between Rel proteins and their cytoplasmic inhibitors as an important interface of evolutionary adaptation.
Prothmann
Christian
C
Adolf-Butenandt-Institut, Ludwif-Maximilians-Universität München, Schillerstrasse 44, D-80336 Munich, Germany.
Armstrong
Neil J
NJ
Roth
Siegfried
S
Rupp
Ralph A W
RA
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D005775:Gastrula; D017344:Genes, Insect; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008845:Microinjections; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051841:Transcription Factor RelB / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D014157:Transcription Factors; C062236:dl protein, Drosophila; D051841:Transcription Factor RelB