title: The BTB/POZ-ZF transcription factor dPLZF is involved in Ras/ERK signaling during Drosophila wing development.
abstract: In Drosophila, broad complex, tramtrack, bric à brac (BTB)/poxvirus and zinc finger (POZ) transcription factors are essential regulators of development. We searched the Drosophila genome for BTB/POZ-ZF domains and discovered an unknown Drosophila gene, dPLZF, which encodes an orthologue of human PLZF. We then characterized the biological function of the dPLZF via genetic interaction analysis. Ectopic expression of dPLZF in the wing induced extra vein formation during wing development in Drosophila. Genetic interactions between dPLZF and Ras or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) significantly enhanced the formation of vein cells. On the other hand, loss-of-function mutations in dPLZF resulted in a dramatic suppression of the extra and ectopic vein formation induced by elevated Ras/ERK signaling. Moreover, dPLZF activity upregulated the expression of rhomboid (rho) and spitz, which perform crucial functions in vein cell formation in the developing wing. These results indicate that dPLZF is a transcription factor controlled by the Ras/ERK signaling pathway, which is a prominent regulator of vein cell formation during wing development in Drosophila.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Biology, College of Medicine and Brain Korea 21 Program for Medical Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 301-131, Korea.
authors.forename: Oky
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Maeng
authors.forename: Wonseok
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Jongkyeong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Kyu-Sun
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young-Ha
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ook-Joon
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Guang-Ho
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Sang-Gi
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Paik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D018150:Avipoxvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D000075722:Promyelocytic Leukemia Zinc Finger Protein; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000075722:Promyelocytic Leukemia Zinc Finger Protein; C081481:Rho protein, Drosophila; D014157:Transcription Factors; C092037:ZBTB16 protein, human; C076026:spi protein, Drosophila; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases