title: Undertaker, a Drosophila Junctophilin, links Draper-mediated phagocytosis and calcium homeostasis.
abstract: Phagocytosis is important during development and in the immune response for the removal of apoptotic cells and pathogens, yet its molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the CED2/5/10/12 pathway regulates actin during phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, whereas the role of the CED1/6/7 pathway in phagocytosis is unclear. We report that Undertaker (UTA), a Drosophila Junctophilin protein, is required for Draper (CED-1 homolog)-mediated phagocytosis. Junctophilins couple Ca2+ channels at the plasma membrane to those of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the Ryanodine receptors. We place Draper, its adaptor drCed-6, UTA, the Ryanodine receptor Rya-r44F, the ER Ca2+ sensor dSTIM, and the Ca2+-release-activated Ca2+ channel dOrai in the same pathway that promotes calcium homeostasis and phagocytosis. Thus, our results implicate a Junctophilin in phagocytosis and link Draper-mediated phagocytosis to Ca2+ homeostasis, highlighting a previously uncharacterized role for the CED1/6/7 pathway.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Cell Biology Unit, MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Cell and Developmental Biology Department, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cuttell
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Claire J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Escaron
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lavine
authors.forename: Emeline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Goethem
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Eid
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quirin
authors.forename: Nathalie C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Franc
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D017209:Apoptosis; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D005136:Eye Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010587:Phagocytosis
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C495322:drpr protein, Drosophila; C520357:rtp protein, Drosophila; D002118:Calcium