The Drosophila Hox gene Ultrabithorax controls appendage shape by regulating extracellular matrix dynamics

Development
José M De Las HerasErnesto Sánchez-Herrero

Abstract

Although the specific form of an organ is frequently important for its function, the mechanisms underlying organ shape are largely unknown. In Drosophila, the wings and halteres, homologous appendages of the second and third thoracic segments, respectively, bear different forms: wings are flat, whereas halteres are globular, and yet both characteristic shapes are essential for a normal flight. The Hox gene Ultrabithorax (Ubx) governs the difference between wing and haltere development, but how Ubx function in the appendages prevents or allows flat or globular shapes is unknown. Here, we show that Ubx downregulates Matrix metalloproteinase 1 (Mmp1) expression in the haltere pouch at early pupal stage, which in turn prevents the rapid clearance of Collagen IV compared with the wing disc. This difference is instrumental in determining cell shape changes, expansion of the disc and apposition of dorsal and ventral layers, all of these phenotypic traits being characteristic of wing pouch development. Our results suggest that Ubx regulates organ shape by controlling Mmp1 expression, and the extent and timing of extracellular matrix degradation.

References

Oct 11, 1996·Science·M CallejaG Morata
Jun 26, 1999·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·M H Dickinson
Dec 14, 2001·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·X MorinW Chia
Aug 31, 2002·Developmental Dynamics : an Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists·Aaron VoigtHerbert Jäckle
Dec 6, 2003·Science·Sean E McGuireRonald L Davis
Sep 20, 2005·Current Biology : CB·Luis Alberto Baena-LópezAntonio García-Bellido
Jun 3, 2006·Science·Michael A Crickmore, Richard S Mann
Oct 19, 2006·Developmental Biology·Kalpana MakhijaniL S Shashidhara
Oct 20, 2006·Development·Luis F de NavasErnesto Sánchez-Herrero
Feb 16, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Ajay SrivastavaTian Xu
Mar 1, 2007·Journal of Cell Science·Paloma Domínguez-GiménezMaría D Martín-Bermudo
May 18, 2007·Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology·Seth S Blair
Aug 19, 2007·Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology·Andrea Page-McCaw
Sep 27, 2007·Experimental Biology and Medicine·Valerie S LeBleuRaghu Kalluri
May 12, 2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Juan HuangYang Hong
Dec 8, 2009·Science·Richard O Hynes
Jul 28, 2010·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Silvia AldazMatthew Freeman
Feb 2, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Anastasios Pavlopoulos, Michael Akam
Aug 16, 2011·Developmental Cell·José Carlos Pastor-Pareja, Tian Xu
Dec 15, 2015·ELife·Boris GuiraoYohanns Bellaïche
Oct 28, 2016·Mechanisms of Development·M C Diaz de la Loza, B J Thompson
Jan 20, 2017·Nature·Darren GilmourMaria Leptin

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.