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A sharp end to sugary Wingless travels.
Ilia A Droujinine1, Dong Yan1, Norbert Perrimon2
1Department of Genetics and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115.
The Journal of Cell Biology
|October 1, 2014
Summary
Wingless (Wg) ligands travel long distances to control Drosophila stem cells. A study shows heparan sulfate proteoglycan Dally-like (Dlp) aids Wg spreading, while matrix Metalloproteinase 2 (Mmp2) hinders it by inactivating Dlp.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Signaling
- Extracellular Matrix Biology
Background:
- Drosophila melanogaster follicle stem cells rely on Wingless (Wg) signaling for regulation.
- Wg ligands are secreted over significant distances (50 µm), necessitating mechanisms for long-range transport.
- Understanding Wg spreading is crucial for comprehending stem cell maintenance and tissue development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing long-distance Wingless (Wg) ligand spreading.
- To identify factors that facilitate or inhibit Wg transport in Drosophila.
- To investigate the role of heparan sulfate proteoglycans and metalloproteinases in Wg signaling.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism.
- Investigated the function of Dally-like (Dlp), a heparan sulfate proteoglycan.
- Examined the activity of matrix Metalloproteinase 2 (Mmp2) in relation to Wg signaling.
- Assessed the impact of Dlp and Mmp2 on Wg ligand spreading and stem cell control.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that Dally-like (Dlp) promotes the long-distance travel of Wingless (Wg) ligands.
- Showed that matrix Metalloproteinase 2 (Mmp2) inhibits Wg spreading.
- Identified Mmp2's mechanism of action as the inactivation of Dlp.
- Linked these molecular interactions to the control of Drosophila follicle stem cells.
Conclusions:
- Dally-like (Dlp) is a key facilitator of Wingless (Wg) ligand spreading over long distances.
- Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 (Mmp2) acts as a negative regulator by inactivating Dlp, thereby restricting Wg movement.
- This interplay between Dlp and Mmp2 provides a novel mechanism for controlling stem cell behavior via regulated morphogen transport.
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