Interaction of bHLH-PAS proteins involved in juvenile hormone reception in Drosophila.
The Methoprene-tolerant (Met) bHLH-PAS gene is involved in juvenile hormone (JH) action in Drosophila melanogaster as a likely component of a JH receptor. We expressed Met in Drosophila S2 cells and explored for MET partners using pull-down assays. MET-MET interaction was found to occur. The germ-cell expressed (gce) gene is another D. melanogaster bHLH-PAS gene with high homology to Met, and GCE formed heterodimers with MET. In the presence of JH or either of two JH agonists, MET-MET and MET-GCE formation was drastically reduced. Interaction between GCE and MET having N- or C-terminus truncations, bHLH or PAS-A domain deletions, or a point mutation in the PAS-B domain failed to occur. However, JH-dependent interaction occurred between GCE and MET having point mutations in bHLH or PAS-A. During development, changes in JH titer may alter partner binding by MET and result in different gene expression patterns.
Godlewski
Jakub
J
Department of Entomology, 400 Aronoff Laboratory, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Wang
Shaoli
S
Wilson
Thomas G
TG
D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000378:metabolism*; D007605:Juvenile Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D008726:Methoprene / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D025941:Protein Interaction Mapping
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D007605:Juvenile Hormones; D008726:Methoprene