Trithorax regulates systemic signaling during Drosophila imaginal disc regeneration.
Although tissue regeneration has been studied in a variety of organisms, from Hydra to humans, many of the genes that regulate the ability of each animal to regenerate remain unknown. The larval imaginal discs of the genetically tractable model organism Drosophila melanogaster have complex patterning, well-characterized development and a high regenerative capacity, and are thus an excellent model system for studying mechanisms that regulate regeneration. To identify genes that are important for wound healing and tissue repair, we have carried out a genetic screen for mutations that impair regeneration in the wing imaginal disc. Through this screen we identified the chromatin-modification gene trithorax as a key regeneration gene. Here we show that animals heterozygous for trithorax are unable to maintain activation of a developmental checkpoint that allows regeneration to occur. This defect is likely to be caused by abnormally high expression of puckered, a negative regulator of Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling, at the wound site. Insufficient JNK signaling leads to insufficient expression of an insulin-like peptide, dILP8, which is required for the developmental checkpoint. Thus, trithorax regulates regeneration signaling and capacity.
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61853, USA.
Andrea
A
Skinner
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61853, USA.
Sumbul Jawed
SJ
Khan
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61853, USA rsbolton@illinois.edu.
Rachel K
RK
Smith-Bolton
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000254:growth & development*; D004440:Ecdysone / Q000737:chemistry; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006579:Heterozygote; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry; D060227:Imaginal Discs / Q000502:physiology*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000502:physiology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012038:Regeneration; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006657:Histones; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C572149:insulin-like peptide 8, Drosophila; C512571:trx protein, Drosophila; D004440:Ecdysone; C110854:puc protein, Drosophila; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases
Chromatin; JNK signaling; Regeneration