title: Adhesive pad differentiation in Drosophila melanogaster depends on the Polycomb group gene Su(z)2.
abstract: The ability of many insects to walk on vertical smooth surfaces such as glass or even on the ceiling has fascinated biologists for a long time, and has led to the discovery of highly specialized adhesive organs located at the distal end of the animals' legs. So far, research has primarily focused on structural and ultrastructural investigations leading to a deeper understanding of adhesive organ functionality and to the development of new bioinspired materials. Genetic approaches, e.g. the analysis of mutants, to achieve a better understanding of adhesive organ differentiation have not been used so far. Here, we describe the first Drosophila melanogaster mutant that develops malformed adhesive organs, resulting in a complete loss of climbing ability on vertical smooth surfaces. Interestingly, these mutants fail to make close contact between the setal tips and the smooth surface, a crucial condition for wet adhesion mediated by capillary forces. Instead, these flies walk solely on their claws. Moreover, we were able to show that the mutation is caused by a P-element insertion into the Su(z)2 gene locus. Remobilization of the P-element restores climbing ability. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the P-element insertion results in an artificial Su(z)2 transcript, which most likely causes a gain-of-function mutation. We presume that this transcript causes deregulation of yet unknown target genes involved in pulvilli differentiation. Our results nicely demonstrate that the genetically treatable model organism Drosophila is highly suitable for future investigations on adhesive organ differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Osnabrück, Zoology/Developmental Biology, Barbarastraße 11, Osnabrück D-49069, Germany.
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hüsken
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, Kiel D-24098, Germany.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hufnagel
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Osnabrück, Zoology/Developmental Biology, Barbarastraße 11, Osnabrück D-49069, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mende
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, Kiel D-24098, Germany.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Appel
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Osnabrück, Zoology/Developmental Biology, Barbarastraße 11, Osnabrück D-49069, Germany.
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, Kiel D-24098, Germany.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peisker
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Osnabrück, Zoology/Developmental Biology, Barbarastraße 11, Osnabrück D-49069, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tögel
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Osnabrück, Zoology/Developmental Biology, Barbarastraße 11, Osnabrück D-49069, Germany.
authors.forename: Shuoshuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, Kiel D-24098, Germany.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, Kiel D-24098, Germany.
authors.forename: Stanislav N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Gorb
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Osnabrück, Zoology/Developmental Biology, Barbarastraße 11, Osnabrück D-49069, Germany paululat@biologie.uni-osnabrueck.de.
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paululat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005121:Extremities / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion; D009154:Mutation; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C095065:Pcl protein, Drosophila; D012097:Repressor Proteins
keywords: Adhesive organ; Drosophila; Pulvillus; Seta; Smooth surface; Su(z)2