title: Dusky-like functions as a Rab11 effector for the deposition of cuticle during Drosophila bristle development.
abstract: The morphogenesis of Drosophila sensory bristles is dependent on the function of their actin and microtubule cytoskeleton. Actin filaments are important for bristle shape and elongation, while microtubules are thought to mediate protein and membrane trafficking to promote growth. We have identified an essential role for the bristle cuticle in the maintenance of bristle structure and shape at late stages of bristle development. We show that the small GTPase Rab11 mediates the organized deposition of chitin, a major cuticle component in bristles, and disrupting Rab11 function leads to phenotypes that result from bristle collapse rather than a failure to elongate. We further establish that Rab11 is required for the plasma membrane localization of the ZP domain-containing Dusky-like (Dyl) protein and that Dyl is also required for cuticle formation in bristles. Our data argue that Dyl functions as a Rab11 effector for mediating the attachment of the bristle cell membrane to chitin to establish a stable cuticle. Our studies also implicate the exocyst as a Rab11 effector in this process and that Rab11 trafficking along the bristle shaft is mediated by microtubules.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Cell Biology Department, Institute for Morphogenesis and Regenerative Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.
authors.forename: Ranganayaki
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nagaraj
authors.forename: Paul N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Adler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002686:Chitin / Q000378:metabolism; D002687:Chitin Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009024:Morphogenesis; D010641:Phenotype; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019076:Transgenes; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099193:rab11 GTP-Binding Proteins
chemical_list: D002686:Chitin; D002687:Chitin Synthase; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins; C571894:Dyl protein, Drosophila; C559123:Rab11 protein, Drosophila; D000099193:rab11 GTP-Binding Proteins