title: Drosophila dopamine synthesis pathway genes regulate tracheal morphogenesis.
abstract: While studying the developmental functions of the Drosophila dopamine synthesis pathway genes, we noted interesting and unexpected mutant phenotypes in the developing trachea, a tubule network that has been studied as a model for branching morphogenesis. Specifically, Punch (Pu) and pale (ple) mutants with reduced dopamine synthesis show ectopic/aberrant migration, while Catecholamines up (Catsup) mutants that over-express dopamine show a characteristic loss of migration phenotype. We also demonstrate expression of Punch, Ple, Catsup and dopamine in tracheal cells. The dopamine pathway mutant phenotypes can be reproduced by pharmacological treatments of dopamine and a pathway inhibitor 3-iodotyrosine (3-IT), implicating dopamine as a direct mediator of the regulatory function. Furthermore, we show that these mutants genetically interact with components of the endocytic pathway, namely shibire/dynamin and awd/nm23, that promote endocytosis of the chemotactic signaling receptor Btl/FGFR. Consistent with the genetic results, the surface and total cellular levels of a Btl-GFP fusion protein in the tracheal cells and in cultured S2 cells are reduced upon dopamine treatment, and increased in the presence of 3-IT. Moreover, the transducer of Btl signaling, MAP kinase, is hyper-activated throughout the tracheal tube in the Pu mutant. Finally we show that dopamine regulates endocytosis via controlling the dynamin protein level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hsouna
authors.forename: Hakeem O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Lawal
authors.forename: Iyare
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Izevbaye
authors.forename: Tien
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Janis M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002465:Cell Movement; D004298:Dopamine / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034281:Dynamins / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017344:Genes, Insect; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; C511455:catsup protein, Drosophila; C102301:BTL protein, Drosophila; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D034281:Dynamins; D004298:Dopamine