Sumoylation modulates the activity of Spalt-like proteins during wing development in Drosophila.
The Spalt-like family of zinc finger transcription factors is conserved throughout evolution and is involved in fundamental processes during development and during embryonic stem cell maintenance. Although human SALL1 is modified by SUMO-1 in vitro, it is not known whether this post-translational modification plays a role in regulating the activity of this family of transcription factors. Here, we show that the Drosophila Spalt transcription factors are modified by sumoylation. This modification influences their nuclear localization and capacity to induce vein formation through the regulation of target genes during wing development. Furthermore, spalt genes interact genetically with the sumoylation machinery to repress vein formation in intervein regions and to attain the wing final size. Our results suggest a new level of regulation of Sall activity in vivo during animal development through post-translational modification by sumoylation. The evolutionary conservation of this family of transcription factors suggests a functional role for sumoylation in vertebrate Sall members.
Sánchez
Jonatan
J
CIC bioGUNE, Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain.
Talamillo
Ana
A
Lopitz-Otsoa
Fernando
F
Pérez
Coralia
C
Hjerpe
Roland
R
Sutherland
James D
JD
Herboso
Leire
L
Rodríguez
Manuel S
MS
Barrio
Rosa
R
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D025841:Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D025841:Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C074089:kni protein, Drosophila; C085793:salm protein, Drosophila; C490960:smt3 protein, Drosophila