Genetic interaction of centrosomin and bazooka in apical domain regulation in Drosophila photoreceptor.
BACKGROUND
Cell polarity genes including Crumbs (Crb) and Par complexes are essential for controlling photoreceptor morphogenesis. Among the Crb and Par complexes, Bazooka (Baz, Par-3 homolog) acts as a nodal component for other cell polarity proteins. Therefore, finding other genes interacting with Baz will help us to understand the cell polarity genes' role in photoreceptor morphogenesis.


RESULTS
Here, we have found a genetic interaction between baz and centrosomin (cnn). Cnn is a core protein for centrosome which is a major microtubule-organizing center. We analyzed the effect of the cnn mutation on developing eyes to determine its role in photoreceptor morphogenesis. We found that Cnn is dispensable for retinal differentiation in eye imaginal discs during the larval stage. However, photoreceptors deficient in Cnn display dramatic morphogenesis defects including the mislocalization of Crumbs (Crb) and Bazooka (Baz) during mid-stage pupal eye development, suggesting that Cnn is specifically required for photoreceptor morphogenesis during pupal eye development. This role of Cnn in apical domain modulation was further supported by Cnn's gain-of-function phenotype. Cnn overexpression in photoreceptors caused the expansion of the apical Crb membrane domain, Baz and adherens junctions (AJs).


CONCLUSIONS
These results strongly suggest that the interaction of Baz and Cnn is essential for apical domain and AJ modulation during photoreceptor morphogenesis, but not for the initial photoreceptor differentiation in the Drosophila photoreceptor.
Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America.
Geng
G
Chen
Alicia K
AK
Rogers
Garrett P
GP
League
Sang-Chul
SC
Nam
D022005:Adherens Junctions; D000818:Animals; D016764:Cell Polarity; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D005123:Eye / Q000254:growth & development; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009024:Morphogenesis; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / Q000502:physiology*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C400774:baz protein, Drosophila; C098130:cnn protein, Drosophila
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