Wash functions downstream of Rho1 GTPase in a subset of Drosophila immune cell developmental migrations.
Drosophila immune cells, the hemocytes, undergo four stereotypical developmental migrations to populate the embryo, where they provide immune reconnoitering, as well as a number of non-immune-related functions necessary for proper embryogenesis. Here, we describe a role for Rho1 in one of these developmental migrations in which posteriorly located hemocytes migrate toward the head. This migration requires the interaction of Rho1 with its downstream effector Wash, a Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome family protein. Both Wash knockdown and a Rho1 transgene harboring a mutation that prevents Wash binding exhibit the same developmental migratory defect as Rho1 knockdown. Wash activates the Arp2/3 complex, whose activity is needed for this migration, whereas members of the WASH regulatory complex (SWIP, Strumpellin, and CCDC53) are not. Our results suggest a WASH complex-independent signaling pathway to regulate the cytoskeleton during a subset of hemocyte developmental migrations.
Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109.
Jeffrey M
JM
Verboon
Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109.
Travis K
TK
Rahe
Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109.
Evelyn
E
Rodriguez-Mesa
Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109 susanp@fredhutch.org.
Susan M
SM
Parkhurst
D051376:Actin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011485:Protein Binding; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
D051376:Actin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; C573645:WASH protein, Drosophila; C511153:Rho1 protein, Drosophila; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins