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Planar Cell Polarity Effector Fritz Interacts with Dishevelled and Has Multiple Functions in Regulating PCP
Ying Wang1,2, Victor F Naturale1,2, Paul N Adler3,4
1Biology Department, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903.
G3 (Bethesda, Md.)
|March 5, 2017
Summary
Planar Cell Polarity Effector (PPE) proteins like Fritz and Inturned are crucial for cell polarity. New research shows Fritz has Inturned-independent activity and dynamic membrane localization, advancing our understanding of this signaling pathway.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Planar Cell Polarity (PCP) signaling regulates cell orientation.
- Planar Cell Polarity Effector (PPE) proteins, including inturned (in), fuzzy (fy), and fritz (frtz), are downstream components of the PCP pathway.
- The precise mechanisms by which upstream PCP genes instruct PPE protein accumulation remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between Dishevelled and PPE proteins (Fritz, Fuzzy).
- To determine if Fritz possesses Inturned-independent activity.
- To visualize the dynamic behavior and localization of Fritz in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Generated a precise deletion of the inturned gene (in).
- Utilized CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to create a fluorescently tagged Fritz protein (frtz-NeonGreen).
- Performed in vivo imaging of Fritz dynamics in epidermal cells and developing bristles.
Main Results:
- Mild overexpression of Fritz partially rescued the inturned deletion, indicating Inturned-independent activity.
- fritz-NeonGreen is fully functional and suitable for live imaging.
- Fritz exhibits dynamic behavior, localizing to membrane subdomains (puncta) and stripes in bristles.
Conclusions:
- Fritz plays a role in PCP independent of Inturned.
- Fritz protein dynamics and localization provide new insights into PPE protein function.
- Direct interactions between Dishevelled and PPE proteins may mediate upstream signal transduction.
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