title: Slik and the receptor tyrosine kinase Breathless mediate localized activation of Moesin in terminal tracheal cells.
abstract: A key element in the regulation of subcellular branching and tube morphogenesis of the Drosophila tracheal system is the organization of the actin cytoskeleton by the ERM protein Moesin. Activation of Moesin within specific subdomains of cells, critical for its interaction with actin, is a tightly controlled process and involves regulatory inputs from membrane proteins, kinases and phosphatases. The kinases that activate Moesin in tracheal cells are not known. Here we show that the Sterile-20 like kinase Slik, enriched at the luminal membrane, is necessary for the activation of Moesin at the luminal membrane and regulates branching and subcellular tube morphogenesis of terminal cells. Our results reveal the FGF-receptor Breathless as an additional necessary cue for the activation of Moesin in terminal cells. Breathless-mediated activation of Moesin is independent of the canonical MAP kinase pathway.
authors: Institute of Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors: Fiona Paul
authors: FP
authors: Ukken
authors: Directors' Research, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Imola
authors: I
authors: Aprill
authors: Directors' Research, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: JayaNandanan
authors: Institute of Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Directors' Research, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Leptin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009024:Morphogenesis; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014132:Trachea / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; C071058:moesin; C102301:BTL protein, Drosophila; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C492662:Slik protein, Drosophila