title: Transcriptome sequencing revealsmaelstromas a novel target gene of the terminal system in the red flour beetleTribolium castaneum.
abstract: Terminal regions of theDrosophilaembryo are patterned by the localized activation of the Torso-RTK pathway, which promotes the downregulation of Capicua. In the short-germ beetleTribolium, the function of the terminal system appears to be rather different, as the pathway promotes axis elongation and, in addition, is required for patterning the extra-embryonic serosa at the anterior. Here, we show that Torso signalling also induces gene expression by relieving Capicua-mediated repression inTriboliumGiven that the majority of Torso target genes remain to be identified, we established a differential gene-expression screen. A subset of 50 putative terminal target genes was screened for functions in early embryonic patterning. Of those, 13 genes show early terminal expression domains and also phenotypes were related to terminal patterning. Among others, we found the PIWI-interacting RNA factor Maelstrom to be crucial for early embryonic polarization.Tc-maelis required for proper serosal size regulation and head morphogenesis. Moreover,Tc-maelpromotes growth-zone formation and axis elongation. Our results suggest that posterior patterning by Torso may be realized through Maelstrom-dependent activation of posterior Wnt domains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Developmental Biology Unit, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Staudtstrasse 5, Erlangen 91058, Germany.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pridöhl
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Developmental Biology Unit, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Staudtstrasse 5, Erlangen 91058, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weißkopf
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Developmental Biology Unit, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Staudtstrasse 5, Erlangen 91058, Germany.
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koniszewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Developmental Biology Unit, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Staudtstrasse 5, Erlangen 91058, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sulzmaier
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schwabachanlage 10, Erlangen 91054, Germany.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uebe
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schwabachanlage 10, Erlangen 91054, Germany.
authors.forename: Arif B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ekici
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Developmental Biology Unit, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Staudtstrasse 5, Erlangen 91058, Germany michael.schoppmeier@fau.de.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6143-8802
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schoppmeier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D005433:Flour / Q000469:parasitology*; D054262:Gastrulation / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017344:Genes, Insect; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D034622:RNA Interference; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA / Q000379:methods*; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000235:genetics*; D014231:Tribolium / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins
keywords: Anterior-posterior patterning; Capicua; Maelstrom; Short-germ insect; Terminal system; Torso; Torso-like; Transcriptome sequencing; Tribolium