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Cell Aggregation Assays to Evaluate the Binding of the Drosophila Notch with Trans-Ligands and its Inhibition by Cis-Ligands
Published on: January 2, 2018
Naked cuticle inhibits wingless signaling in Drosophila wing development
Rui Wang1, Hao Xie1, Lin Yang1
1School of Life Science and Technology, MOE Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Diseases, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
Abstract:
Wnt signaling is one of the major signaling pathways that regulate cell differentiation, tissue patterning and stem cell homeostasis and its dysfunction causes many human diseases, such as cancer. It is of tremendous interests to understand how Wnt signaling is regulated in a precise manner both temporally and spatially. Naked cuticle (Nkd) acts as a negative-feedback inhibitor for Wingless (Wg, a fly Wnt) signaling in Drosophila embryonic development. However, the role of Nkd remains controversial in later fly development, particularly on the canonical Wg pathway. In the present study, we show that nkd is essential for wing pattern formation, such that both gain and loss of nkd result in the disruption of Wg target expression in larvae stage and abnormal adult wing morphologies. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a thirty amino acid fragment in Nkd, identified previously in Wharton lab, is critical for the canonical Wg signaling, but is dispensable for Wg/planar cell polarity pathway. Putting aside the pleiotropic nature of nkd function, i.e. its role in the Decapentaplegic signaling, we conclude that Nkd universally inhibits the canonical Wg pathway across a life span of Drosophila development.
Insights
Naked cuticle (Nkd) universally inhibits the canonical Wnt (Wingless) pathway in Drosophila development, crucial for wing pattern formation. This inhibition is vital for regulating Wnt target gene expression and adult wing morphology.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Molecular signaling pathways
- Genetics
Background:
- Wnt signaling regulates fundamental cellular processes like differentiation and homeostasis.
- Dysfunctional Wnt signaling is implicated in human diseases, including cancer.
- Naked cuticle (Nkd) is a known negative regulator of Wingless (Wg) signaling in Drosophila embryos.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Nkd in later stages of Drosophila development, specifically in wing pattern formation.
- To clarify the function of Nkd in the canonical Wnt pathway.
- To identify the specific Nkd domain responsible for canonical Wnt pathway regulation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of nkd gene function through gain and loss-of-function mutations in Drosophila.
- Examination of Wg target gene expression in larvae.
- Assessment of adult wing morphology.
- Functional characterization of a specific 30-amino acid fragment of Nkd.
Main Results:
- Both gain and loss of nkd function disrupt Wg target gene expression and lead to abnormal adult wing morphology.
- A 30-amino acid fragment of Nkd is essential for regulating the canonical Wnt pathway.
- This critical fragment is dispensable for the Wnt/planar cell polarity pathway.
Conclusions:
- Nkd acts as a universal inhibitor of the canonical Wnt pathway throughout Drosophila development.
- Nkd plays an essential role in wing pattern formation by modulating Wnt signaling.
- The specific 30-amino acid domain mediates Nkd's inhibitory function on canonical Wnt signaling.
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