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RP gene haploinsufficiency promotes extra sensory organ formation via a threshold effect

Haiwei Pi1,2, Kuan-Han Chen1, Hsin Tu1,2

  • 1Department of Biomedical Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Fly
|January 6, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Ribosomal protein (RP) gene haploinsufficiency causes ribosomopathies. In Drosophila, severe RP defects trigger a threshold effect, promoting sensory organ formation via Xrp1, suggesting a stress response mechanism.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Ribosomal protein (RP) gene haploinsufficiency leads to ribosomopathies.
  • In Drosophila, this manifests as the Minute phenotype, affecting mechanosensory bristles.
  • Bristle and campaniform sensilla (CS) development relies on Achaete (Ac) and Scute (Sc) proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the genetic interactions between RP gene haploinsufficiency and sensory organ development.
  • Identify mechanisms underlying threshold-dependent effects in severe Minute phenotypes.
  • Explore the role of stress-response pathways in modulating neurogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Analyzing genetic interactions between ac sc and Minute mutants.
  • Comparing transcriptomes of sensory organ-promoting and non-promoting Minutes.
  • Investigating the effect of Xrp1 mutations on ectopic CS formation.

Main Results:

  • A novel bristle-promoting effect was identified in strongly affected Minutes, dependent on bristle length threshold.
  • This threshold effect promotes ectopic campaniform sensilla (CS) formation.
  • Elevated Xrp1-Irbp18 dimer expression was observed in Minutes exhibiting these phenotypes.
  • Xrp1 mutation suppressed ectopic CS formation, indicating a positive regulatory role.

Conclusions:

  • RP gene haploinsufficiency exhibits a previously unrecognized threshold effect.
  • Excessive Xrp1 activity promotes supernumerary sensory organ formation under severe ribosomal stress.
  • This suggests a compensatory mechanism modulating neurogenesis during severe ribosomal stress.
Keywords:
RP gene gene haploinsufficiencyXrp1bristlescampaniform sensillaminute mutantproneural proteinsribosomal stress

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