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Live-imaging of the Drosophila Pupal Eye
Published on: January 12, 2015
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Drosophila MAGI interacts with RASSF8 to regulate E-Cadherin-based adherens junctions in the developing eye
Sophie Zaessinger1, Yanxiang Zhou2, Sarah J Bray3
1IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Montpellier F-34298, France INSERM, U1194, Montpellier F-34298, France Université de Montpellier, Montpellier F-34090, France Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier F-34298, France.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|March 1, 2015
Summary
Drosophila Magi protein is essential for eye development by regulating cell rearrangements. It recruits the RASSF8-ASPP complex to control Bazooka localization and stabilize cell adhesion complexes.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Morphogenesis is vital for creating organs and tissues of precise size and shape during development.
- In Drosophila eye development, interommatidial cells (IOCs) rearrange to form a structured pupal lattice.
- Adherens junctions (AJs) and E-Cadherin (E-Cad) complexes are critical for this cell rearrangement process.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms controlling Bazooka (Baz) localization during junction remodeling in Drosophila eye development.
- To elucidate the role of Drosophila Magi (the fly homolog of mammalian MAGI scaffolds) in regulating E-Cad-based AJs and cell rearrangements.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the function of Drosophila Magi in interommatidial cells (IOCs) during late eye development.
- Utilized co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence microscopy to study protein interactions and localization.
- Analyzed the effects of Magi mutations on cell positioning, Baz localization, and E-Cadherin complex stability.
Main Results:
- Drosophila Magi acts upstream of E-Cad-based AJs, and Magi mutant IOCs exhibit positional defects.
- A direct physical interaction between Magi and RASSF8 was identified via WW domain-PPxY motif binding.
- Apical Magi recruits the RASSF8-ASPP complex, which is required for the cortical recruitment of Baz and catenins.
Conclusions:
- The Magi and RASSF8-ASPP complex are crucial for proper Baz localization at remodeling junctions in Drosophila IOCs.
- This complex promotes the recruitment or stabilization of E-Cadherin complexes, ensuring correct cell adhesion and positioning.
- Highlights a novel regulatory pathway involving Magi and RASSF8 in controlling cell adhesion and tissue morphogenesis.
