title: Evolutionary changes in TGFα distribution underlie morphological diversity in eggshells from Drosophila species.
abstract: Drosophila eggshells display remarkable morphological diversity among species; however, the molecular origin of this structural diversification is mostly unknown. Here, we analyzed the dorsal ridge (DR), a lumen-like structure along the dorsal side of eggshells, from numerous Drosophila species. This structure varies in length and width across species, and is absent from D. melanogaster eggshells. We associated DR formation with distinct spatiotemporal changes in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation, which acts as a key receptor in eggshell patterning. We show that changes in the distribution of the TGFα-like ligand Gurken (GRK), a crucial ligand for axis formation, underlies EGFR activation and DR formation in D. willistoni. Furthermore, we demonstrate that GRK from D. willistoni rescues a grk-null D. melanogaster fly and, remarkably, it is also sufficient to generate a DR-like structure on its eggshell.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Camden, NJ 08103, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Niepielko
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Camden, NJ 08103, USA yakoby@camden.rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yakoby
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D007118:Immunoassay; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010063:Ovum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D013045:Species Specificity; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; C083730:grk protein, Drosophila
keywords: EGFR activation; Eggshell; Gurken; Morphological novelty; Oogenesis