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The protein phosphatase 4 complex promotes the Notch pathway and wingless transcription

Eric T Hall1, Tirthadipa Pradhan-Sundd1, Faaria Samnani1

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada.

Biology Open
|June 28, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Protein Phosphatase 4 (PP4) regulates the Wingless (Wg) pathway by controlling Notch signaling. This study reveals PP4

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • The Wnt/Wingless (Wg) pathway is crucial for cell fate, differentiation, and development.
  • Kinase and phosphatase regulators of the Wg pathway are not fully characterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel regulators of the Wg pathway using an in vivo RNAi screen.
  • To investigate the role of Protein Phosphatase 4 (PP4) in Wg and Notch pathway regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted an in vivo RNAi screen to identify Wg pathway regulators.
  • Utilized knockdown of catalytic and regulatory subunits of PP4.
  • Performed genetic interaction experiments to elucidate PP4's mechanism.

Main Results:

  • Identified Protein Phosphatase 4 (PP4) subunits as novel Wg pathway regulators.
  • PP4 knockdown reduced Wg pathway targets (Senseless, Distal-less).
  • PP4 regulates Wg pathway by controlling Notch-driven transcription, likely in the nucleus.
  • PP4 also regulates cell proliferation independently of Notch signaling.

Conclusions:

  • Protein Phosphatase 4 (PP4) plays a novel role in regulating the Notch pathway.
  • PP4 influences Notch-mediated transcriptional regulation of the Wingless ligand.
  • PP4's role in proliferation is distinct from its function in Notch-Wg signaling.
Keywords:
FlflNotch signalingPP4Wingless signaling

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