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Dissection and Immunostaining of Imaginal Discs from Drosophila melanogaster
Published on: September 20, 2014
A role for wingless in an early pupal cell death event that contributes to patterning the Drosophila eye
Julia Cordero1, Omar Jassim, Sujin Bao
1Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Abstract:
Programmed cell death (PCD) is utilized in a wide variety of tissues to refine structure in developing tissues and organs. However, little is understood about the mechanisms that, within a developing epithelium, combine signals to selectively remove some cells while sparing essential neighbors. One popular system for studying this question is the developing Drosophila pupal retina, where excess interommatidial support cells are removed to refine the patterned ommatidial array. In this paper, we present data indicating that PCD occurs earlier within the pupal retina than previously demonstrated. As with later PCD, this death is dependent on Notch activity. Surprisingly, altering Drosophila Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor or Ras pathway activity had no effect on this death. Instead, our evidence indicates a role for Wingless signaling to provoke this cell death. Together, these signals regulate an intermediate step in the selective removal of unneeded interommatidial cells that is necessary for a precise retinal pattern.
Insights
Programmed cell death (PCD) in the developing Drosophila retina occurs earlier than previously known. Wingless signaling, not EGFR or Ras pathways, triggers this cell death, refining retinal patterns.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Cellular biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Programmed cell death (PCD) refines tissue structure during development.
- Mechanisms integrating signals for selective cell removal in epithelia are poorly understood.
- The Drosophila pupal retina is a model for studying PCD in excess cell removal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the timing and signaling pathways regulating PCD in the developing Drosophila pupal retina.
- To identify molecular signals that trigger selective cell death in interommatidial support cells.
- To understand how PCD contributes to the precise patterning of the adult retina.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of programmed cell death timing in the developing Drosophila pupal retina.
- Genetic manipulation of signaling pathways including Notch, EGFR, Ras, and Wingless.
- Observation of cell death phenotypes and retinal patterning.
Main Results:
- Programmed cell death (PCD) occurs earlier in the pupal retina than previously documented.
- This early PCD is dependent on Notch activity.
- Wingless signaling, rather than Drosophila Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor or Ras pathways, provokes this cell death.
- These signals regulate an intermediate step in removing unneeded interommatidial cells.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals an earlier onset of PCD in the Drosophila pupal retina.
- Wingless signaling plays a crucial role in initiating PCD, alongside Notch activity.
- Understanding these signaling interactions is key to comprehending the selective removal of cells for precise tissue patterning.
