title: Targeted Downregulation of s36 Protein Unearths its Cardinal Role in Chorion Biogenesis and Architecture during Drosophila melanogaster Oogenesis.
abstract: Drosophila chorion represents a model biological system for the in vivo study of gene activity, epithelial development, extracellular-matrix assembly and morphogenetic-patterning control. It is produced during the late stages of oogenesis by epithelial follicle cells and develops into a highly organized multi-layered structure that exhibits regional specialization and radial complexity. Among the six major proteins involved in chorion's formation, the s36 and s38 ones are synthesized first and regulated in a cell type-specific and developmental stage-dependent manner. In our study, an RNAi-mediated silencing of s36 chorionic-gene expression specifically in the follicle-cell compartment of Drosophila ovary unearths the essential, and far from redundant, role of s36 protein in patterning establishment of chorion's regional specialization and radial complexity. Without perturbing the developmental courses of follicle- and nurse-cell clusters, the absence of s36 not only promotes chorion's fragility but also induces severe structural irregularities on chorion's surface and entirely impairs fly's fertility. Moreover, we herein unveil a novel function of s36 chorionic protein in the regulation of number and morphogenetic integrity of dorsal appendages in follicles sporadically undergoing aged fly-dependent stress.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanassios D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Velentzas
authors.affiliation: Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Velentzas
authors.affiliation: Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Niki E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Sagioglou
authors.affiliation: Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eumorphia G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Konstantakou
authors.affiliation: Proteomics Core Facility, Systems Biology Center, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Anagnostopoulos
authors.affiliation: Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tsioka
authors.affiliation: Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassiliki E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Mpakou
authors.affiliation: Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF), Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kollia
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Consoulas
authors.affiliation: Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Lukas H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Margaritis
authors.affiliation: Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Issidora S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Papassideri
authors.affiliation: Proteomics Core Facility, Systems Biology Center, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George Th
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Tsangaris
authors.affiliation: Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF), Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sarantopoulou
authors.affiliation: Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF), Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Alkiviadis-Constantinos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Cefalas
authors.affiliation: Section of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, School of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stravopodis
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002823:Chorion / Q000502:physiology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004527:Egg Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C015753:chorion proteins; C000627064:cp36 protein, Drosophila