title: Kermit interacts with Gαo, Vang, and motor proteins in Drosophila planar cell polarity.
abstract: In addition to the ubiquitous apical-basal polarity, epithelial cells are often polarized within the plane of the tissue--the phenomenon known as planar cell polarity (PCP). In Drosophila, manifestations of PCP are visible in the eye, wing, and cuticle. Several components of the PCP signaling have been characterized in flies and vertebrates, including the heterotrimeric Go protein. However, Go signaling partners in PCP remain largely unknown. Using a genetic screen we uncover Kermit, previously implicated in G protein and PCP signaling, as a novel binding partner of Go. Through pull-down and genetic interaction studies, we find that Kermit interacts with Go and another PCP component Vang, known to undergo intracellular relocalization during PCP establishment. We further demonstrate that the activity of Kermit in PCP differentially relies on the motor proteins: the microtubule-based dynein and kinesin motors and the actin-based myosin VI. Our results place Kermit as a potential transducer of Go, linking Vang with motor proteins for its delivery to dedicated cellular compartments during PCP establishment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Vladimir L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Katanaev
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016764:Cell Polarity; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004398:Dyneins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016547:Kinesins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D034622:RNA Interference; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; C111638:Vang protein, Drosophila; C553161:kermit protein, Drosophila; C089785:myosin VI; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains; D004398:Dyneins; D016547:Kinesins; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go