The JAK/STAT pathway regulates proximo-distal patterning in Drosophila.
JAK/STAT signaling is thought to control growth and proliferation. However, here we show a novel role for this pathway in the patterning of Drosophila appendages. Loss of Stat92E function results mainly in ventralizations and multiplications of the proximo-distal axis in leg and antenna, primarily through the ectopic misexpression of wingless. We also show that the pathway ligand Unpaired is expressed in two domains in leg and antenna that abuts those of wingless and decapentaplegic. We report that JAK/STAT signaling represses both wingless and decapentaplegic, restricting them to their respective domains in leg and antenna. In a reciprocal manner, we show that wingless and decapentaplegic restrict unpaired to its two domains. Thus, a main function of the JAK/STAT pathway in leg and antennal development is to promote the formation of a single proximo-distal axis per disc by constraining the intersection of wingless and decapentaplegic to the center of the disc.
Ayala-Camargo
Aidee
A
Pharmacology Department, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016-6402, USA.
Ekas
Laura A
LA
Flaherty
Maria Sol
MS
Baeg
Gyeong-Hun
GH
Bach
Erika A
EA
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017344:Genes, Insect; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; D053612:Janus Kinases