Rab11 is required for tubulogenesis of Malpighian tubules in Drosophila melanogaster

Intracellular vesicular trafficking is one of the important tools in maintaining polarity, adhesion, and shape of epithelial cells. Rab11, a subfamily of the Ypt/Rab gene family of ubiquitously expressed GTPases and a molecular marker of recycling endosomes, transports different components of plasma membrane. Here, we report that Rab11 affects tubulogenesis of Malpighian tubules (MTs). MTs are simple polarized epithelial tubular structures, considered as functional analogue of human kidney. Rab11 has pleiotropic effects on MTs development as down-regulation of Rab11 in principal cells (PCs) of MTs from embryonic stages of development results in reduced endoreplication, clustering of cells, disorganized cytoskeleton, and disruption of polarity leading to shortening of MTs in third instar larvae. Rab11 is also required for proper localization of different transporters in PCs, essential for physiological activity of MTs. Collectively, our data suggest that Rab11 plays a key role in the process of tubulogenesis of MTs in Drosophila.