Drosophila TRAP230/240 are essential coactivators for Atonal in retinal neurogenesis.
The TRAP (thyroid hormone receptor associated proteins)/Mediator complex serves as a transcriptional coactivator. In Drosophila, Kohtalo (Kto) and Skuld (Skd), homologs of TRAP subunits, TRAP230 and TRAP240, respectively, are necessary for eye development. However, the transcriptional activators that require Kto and Skd have not been identified. Here we provide evidence that Kto and Skd are essential for the function of transcription factor Atonal (Ato) in spatial patterning of proneural clusters in the morphogenetic furrow. In the absence of Kto/Skd, Ato fails to induce its inhibitory target events such as EGFR signaling and Scabrous expression that result in ectopic Ato expression in the space between proneural groups. Kto/Skd are also required for positive Ato functions to induce Ato targets such as Ato itself and Senseless within the proneural clusters. We also show that Skd forms a protein complex with Ato in vivo. These data suggest that Kto/Skd act as essential coactivators for Ato expression during early retinal neurogenesis.
Lim
Janghoo
J
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Lee
Ok-Kyung
OK
Hsu
Ya-Chieh
YC
Singh
Amit
A
Choi
Kwang-Wook
KW
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017344:Genes, Insect; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018010:Receptors, Invertebrate Peptide / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases; D018010:Receptors, Invertebrate Peptide; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C072318:B-H1 protein, Drosophila; C422625:KTO protein, Drosophila; C082142:ato protein, Drosophila; C422624:skd protein, Drosophila; C066532:Egfr protein, Drosophila