title: Partial Functional Diversification of Drosophila melanogaster Septin Genes Sep2 and Sep5.
abstract: The septin family of hetero-oligomeric complex-forming proteins can be divided into subgroups, and subgroup members are interchangeable at specific positions in the septin complex. Drosophila melanogaster has five septin genes, including the two SEPT6 subgroup members Sep2 and Sep5 We previously found that Sep2 has a unique function in oogenesis, which is not performed by Sep5 Here, we find that Sep2 is uniquely required for follicle cell encapsulation of female germline cysts, and that Sep2 and Sep5 are redundant for follicle cell proliferation. The five D. melanogaster septins localize similarly in oogenesis, including as rings flanking the germline ring canals. Pnut fails to localize in Sep5; Sep2 double mutant follicle cells, indicating that septin complexes fail to form in the absence of both Sep2 and Sep5. We also find that mutations in septins enhance the mutant phenotype of bazooka, a key component in the establishment of cell polarity, suggesting a link between septin function and cell polarity. Overall, this work suggests that Sep5 has undergone partial loss of ancestral protein function, and demonstrates redundant and unique functions of septins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 5A3, Canada.
authors.forename: Ryan S
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8673-9217
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 5A3, Canada clarkd@unb.ca.
authors.forename: Denise V
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4420-3358
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D058112:Septins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; C400774:baz protein, Drosophila; C087195:pnut protein, Drosophila; C000591511:Sep2 protein, Drosophila; C000591512:Sep5 protein, Drosophila; D058112:Septins
keywords: Drosophila; gene duplication; oogenesis; septin