Analysis of corkscrew signaling in the Drosophila epidermal growth factor receptor pathway during myogenesis

PTPN11/Corkscrew Activates Local Presynaptic Mapk Signaling to Regulate Synapsin, Synaptic Vesicle Pools, and Neurotransmission Strength, with a Dual Requirement in Neurons and Glia

Cytoplasmic protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 11 (PTPN11) and Drosophila homolog Corkscrew (Csw) regulate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway via a conserved autoinhibitory mechanism. Disease-causing loss-of-function (LoF) and gain-of-function (GoF) mutations both disrupt this autoinhibition to potentiate MAPK signaling. At the Drosophila neuromuscular junction glutamatergic synapse, LoF/GoF mutations elevate transmission strength and reduce activity-dependent synaptic depression. In both sexes of LoF/GoF mutations, the synaptic vesicles (SV)-colocalized synapsin phosphoprotein tether is highly elevated at rest, but quickly reduced with stimulation, suggesting a larger SV reserve pool with greatly heightened activity-dependent recruitment. Transmission electron microscopy of mutants reveals an elevated number of SVs clustered at the presynaptic active zones, suggesting that the increased vesicle availability is causative for the elevated neurotransmission. Direct neuron-targeted extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) GoF phenocopies both increased local presynaptic MAPK/ERK signaling and synaptic transmission strength in mutants, confirming the presynaptic regulatory mechanism. Synapsin loss blocks this elevation in both presynaptic PTPN11 and ERK mutants. However, csw null mutants cannot be rescued by wild-type Csw in neurons: neurotransmission is only rescued by expressing Csw in both neurons and glia simultaneously. Nevertheless, targeted LoF/GoF mutations in either neurons or glia alone recapitulate the elevated neurotransmission. Thus, PTPN11/Csw mutations in either cell type are sufficient to upregulate presynaptic function, but a dual requirement in neurons and glia is necessary for neurotransmission. Taken together, we conclude that PTPN11/Csw acts in both neurons and glia, with LoF and GoF similarly upregulating MAPK/ERK signaling to enhance presynaptic Synapsin-mediated SV trafficking.

FMRP activity and control of Csw/SHP2 translation regulate MAPK-dependent synaptic transmission

Noonan syndrome (NS) and NS with multiple lentigines (NSML) cognitive dysfunction are linked to SH2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP2) gain-of-function (GoF) and loss-of-function (LoF), respectively. In Drosophila disease models, we find both SHP2 mutations from human patients and corkscrew (csw) homolog LoF/GoF elevate glutamatergic transmission. Cell-targeted RNAi and neurotransmitter release analyses reveal a presynaptic requirement. Consistently, all mutants exhibit reduced synaptic depression during high-frequency stimulation. Both LoF and GoF mutants also show impaired synaptic plasticity, including reduced facilitation, augmentation, and post-tetanic potentiation. NS/NSML diseases are characterized by elevated MAPK/ERK signaling, and drugs suppressing this signaling restore normal neurotransmission in mutants. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is likewise characterized by elevated MAPK/ERK signaling. Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) binds csw mRNA and neuronal Csw protein is elevated in Drosophila fragile X mental retardation 1 (dfmr1) nulls. Moreover, phosphorylated ERK (pERK) is increased in dfmr1 and csw null presynaptic boutons. We find presynaptic pERK activation in response to stimulation is reduced in dfmr1 and csw nulls. Trans-heterozygous csw/+; dfmr1/+ recapitulate elevated presynaptic pERK activation and function, showing FMRP and Csw/SHP2 act within the same signaling pathway. Thus, a FMRP and SHP2 MAPK/ERK regulative mechanism controls basal and activity-dependent neurotransmission strength.

In vivo Profiling of the Alk Proximitome in the Developing Drosophila Brain

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (Alk) is an evolutionary conserved receptor tyrosine kinase belonging to the insulin receptor superfamily. In addition to its well-studied role in cancer, numerous studies have revealed that Alk signaling is associated with a variety of complex traits such as: regulation of growth and metabolism, hibernation, regulation of neurotransmitters, synaptic coupling, axon targeting, decision making, memory formation and learning, alcohol use disorder, as well as steroid hormone metabolism. In this study, we used BioID-based in vivo proximity labeling to identify molecules that interact with Alk in the Drosophila central nervous system (CNS). To do this, we used CRISPR/Cas9 induced homology-directed repair (HDR) to modify the endogenous Alk locus to produce first and next generation Alk::BioID chimeras. This approach allowed identification of Alk proximitomes under physiological conditions and without overexpression. Our results show that the next generation of BioID proteins (TurboID and miniTurbo) outperform the first generation BirA* fusion in terms of labeling speed and efficiency. LC-MS3-based BioID screening of Alk^TurboID and Alk^miniTurbo larval brains revealed an extensive neuronal Alk proximitome identifying numerous potential components of Alk signaling complexes. Validation of Alk proximitome candidates further revealed co-expression of Stardust (Sdt), Discs large 1 (Dlg1), Syntaxin (Syx) and Rugose (Rg) with Alk in the CNS and identified the protein-tyrosine-phosphatase Corkscrew (Csw) as a modulator of Alk signaling.

Functional requirements of protein kinases and phosphatases in the development of the Drosophila melanogaster wing

Protein kinases and phosphatases constitute a large family of conserved enzymes that control a variety of biological processes by regulating the phosphorylation state of target proteins. They play fundamental regulatory roles during cell cycle progression and signaling, among other key aspects of multicellular development. The complement of protein kinases and phosphatases includes approximately 326 members in Drosophila, and they have been the subject of several functional screens searching for novel components of signaling pathways and regulators of cell division and survival. These approaches have been carried out mostly in cell cultures using RNA interference to evaluate the contribution of each protein in different functional assays, and have contributed significantly to assign specific roles to the corresponding genes. In this work we describe the results of an evaluation of the Drosophila complement of kinases and phosphatases using the wing as a system to identify their functional requirements in vivo. We also describe the results of several modifying screens aiming to identify among the set of protein kinases and phosphatases additional components or regulators of the activities of the Epidermal Growth Factor and Insulin receptors signaling pathways.

Expression of protein tyrosine phosphatases and Bombyx embryonic development

Protein phosphorylation is an integral component of signal transduction pathways within eukaryotic cells, and it is regulated by coordinated interactions between protein kinases and protein phosphatases. Our previous study demonstrated differential expressions of serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PP2A and calcineurin) between diapause and developing eggs in Bombyx mori. In the present study, we further investigated expression of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) in relation to the Bombyx embryonic development. An immunoblot analysis showed that eggs contained the proteins of the 51-kDa PTP 1B (PTP1B), the 55-kDa phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN), and the 70-kDa Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2), which undergo differential changes between diapause and developing eggs. Protein level of PTP1B and PTEN in eggs whose diapause initiation was prevented by HCl gradually increased toward embryonic development. The protein level of SHP2 also showed a dramatic increase on days 7 and 8 after HCl treatment. However, protein levels of PTP1B, PTEN, and SHP2 in diapause eggs remained at low levels during the first 9 days after oviposition. These differential changing patterns in protein levels were further confirmed using both non-diapause eggs and eggs in which diapause had been terminated by chilling of diapausing eggs at 5 °C for 70 days and then were transferred to 25 °C. Direct determination of PTP enzymatic activities showed higher activities in developing eggs (HCl-treated eggs, non-diapause eggs, and chilled eggs) compared to those in diapause eggs. Examination of temporal changes in mRNA expression levels of PTP1B, PTEN, and SHP2 did not show significant differences between diapause eggs and HCl-treated eggs except high expression in SHP2 variant B during the later embryonic development in HCl-treated eggs. These results demonstrate that higher protein levels of PTP1B, PTEN, and SHP2 and increased tyrosine phosphatase enzymatic activities in developing eggs are likely related to embryonic development of B. mori.

SILAC-based quantitative proteomic analysis of Drosophila gastrula stage embryos mutant for fibroblast growth factor signalling

Quantitative proteomic analyses in combination with genetics provide powerful tools in developmental cell signalling research. Drosophila melanogaster is one of the most widely used genetic models for studying development and disease. Here we combined quantitative proteomics with genetic selection to determine changes in the proteome upon depletion of Heartless (Htl) Fibroblast-Growth Factor (FGF) receptor signalling in Drosophila embryos at the gastrula stage. We present a robust, single generation SILAC (stable isotope labelling with amino acids in cell culture) protocol for labelling proteins in early embryos. For the selection of homozygously mutant embryos at the pre-gastrula stage, we developed an independent genetic marker. Our analyses detected quantitative changes in the global proteome of htl mutant embryos during gastrulation. We identified distinct classes of downregulated and upregulated proteins, and network analyses indicate functionally related groups of proteins in each class. In addition, we identified changes in the abundance of phosphopeptides. In summary, our quantitative proteomic analysis reveals global changes in metabolic, nucleoplasmic, cytoskeletal and transport proteins in htl mutant embryos.

EGFR/ARF6 regulation of Hh signalling stimulates oncogenic Ras tumour overgrowth

Multiple signalling events interact in cancer cells. Oncogenic Ras cooperates with Egfr, which cannot be explained by the canonical signalling paradigm. In turn, Egfr cooperates with Hedgehog signalling. How oncogenic Ras elicits and integrates Egfr and Hedgehog signals to drive overgrowth remains unclear. Using a Drosophila tumour model, we show that Egfr cooperates with oncogenic Ras via Arf6, which functions as a novel regulator of Hh signalling. Oncogenic Ras induces the expression of Egfr ligands. Egfr then signals through Arf6, which regulates Hh transport to promote Hh signalling. Blocking any step of this signalling cascade inhibits Hh signalling and correspondingly suppresses the growth of both, fly and human cancer cells harbouring oncogenic Ras mutations. These findings highlight a non-canonical Egfr signalling mechanism, centered on Arf6 as a novel regulator of Hh signalling. This explains both, the puzzling requirement of Egfr in oncogenic Ras-mediated overgrowth and the cooperation between Egfr and Hedgehog.

EGFR signalling is required for oncogenic Ras driven tumorigenesis. In this study, using a Drosophila tumour model the authors demonstrate that depletion of Arf6, a Ras-related GTP-binding protein activated by EGFR, supresses oncogenic Ras driven overgrowth via modulation of Hedgehog signalling.

Regulatory mechanisms of EGFR signalling during Drosophila eye development

EGFR signalling is a well-conserved signalling pathway playing major roles during development and cancers. This review explores what studying the EGFR pathway during Drosophila eye development has taught us in terms of the diversity of its regulatory mechanisms. This model system has allowed the identification of numerous positive and negative regulators acting at specific time and place, thus participating to the tight control of signalling. EGFR signalling regulation is achieved by a variety of mechanisms, including the control of ligand processing, the availability of the receptor itself and the transduction of the cascade in the cytoplasm. Ultimately, the transcriptional responses contribute to the establishment of positive and negative feedback loops. The combination of these multiple mechanisms employed to regulate the EGFR pathway leads to specific cellular outcomes involved in functions as diverse as the acquisition of cell fate, proliferation, survival, adherens junction remodelling and morphogenesis.

Binding partners of the kinase domains in Drosophila obscurin and their effect on the structure of the flight muscle

Drosophila obscurin (Unc-89) is a titin-like protein in the M-line of the muscle sarcomere. Obscurin has two kinase domains near the C-terminus, both of which are predicted to be inactive. We have identified proteins binding to the kinase domains. Kinase domain 1 bound Bällchen (Ball, an active kinase), and both kinase domains 1 and 2 bound MASK (a 400-kDa protein with ankyrin repeats). Ball was present in the Z-disc and M-line of the indirect flight muscle (IFM) and was diffusely distributed in the sarcomere. MASK was present in both the M-line and the Z-disc. Reducing expression of Ball or MASK by siRNA resulted in abnormalities in the IFM, including missing M-lines and multiple Z-discs. Obscurin was still present, suggesting that the kinase domains act as a scaffold binding Ball and MASK. Unlike obscurin in vertebrate skeletal muscle, Drosophila obscurin is necessary for the correct assembly of the IFM sarcomere. We show that Ball and MASK act downstream of obscurin, and both are needed for development of a well defined M-line and Z-disc. The proteins have not previously been identified in Drosophila muscle.

Receptor tyrosine kinases in Drosophila development

Tyrosine phosphorylation plays a significant role in a wide range of cellular processes. The Drosophila genome encodes more than 20 receptor tyrosine kinases and extensive studies in the past 20 years have illustrated their diverse roles and complex signaling mechanisms. Although some receptor tyrosine kinases have highly specific functions, others strikingly are used in rather ubiquitous manners. Receptor tyrosine kinases regulate a broad expanse of processes, ranging from cell survival and proliferation to differentiation and patterning. Remarkably, different receptor tyrosine kinases share many of the same effectors and their hierarchical organization is retained in disparate biological contexts. In this comprehensive review, we summarize what is known regarding each receptor tyrosine kinase during Drosophila development. Astonishingly, very little is known for approximately half of all Drosophila receptor tyrosine kinases.

Drosophila, genetic screens, and cardiac function

The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has been used to study genetics, development, and signaling for nearly a century, but only over the past few decades has this tremendous resource been the focus of cardiovascular research. Fly genetics offers sophisticated transgenic systems, molecularly defined genomic deficiencies, genome-wide transgenic RNAi lines, and numerous curated mutants to perform genetic screens. As a genetically tractable model, the fly facilitates gene discovery and can complement mammalian models of disease. The circulatory system in the fly comprises well-defined sets of cardiomyocytes, and methodological advances have permitted accurate characterization of cardiac morphology and function. Thus, fly genetics and genomics offer new approaches for gene discovery of adult cardiac phenotypes to identify evolutionarily conserved molecular signals that drive cardiovascular disease.

SHP2 tyrosine phosphatase converts parafibromin/Cdc73 from a tumor suppressor to an oncogenic driver

Deregulation of SHP2 is associated with malignant diseases as well as developmental disorders. Although SHP2 is required for full activation of RAS signaling, other potential roles in cell physiology have not been elucidated. Here we show that SHP2 dephosphorylates parafibromin/Cdc73, a core component of the RNA polymerase II-associated factor (PAF) complex. Parafibromin is known to act as a tumor suppressor that inhibits cyclin D1 and c-myc by recruiting SUV39H1 histone methyltransferase. However, parafibromin can also act in the opposing direction by binding β-catenin, thereby activating promitogenic/oncogenic Wnt signaling. We found that, on tyrosine dephosphorylation by SHP2, parafibromin acquires the ability to stably bind β-catenin. The parafibromin/β-catenin interaction overrides parafibromin/SUV39H1-mediated transrepression and induces expression of Wnt target genes, including cyclin D1 and c-myc. Hence, SHP2 governs the opposing functions of parafibromin, deregulation of which may cause the development of tumors or developmental malformations.

Moleskin is essential for the formation of the myotendinous junction in Drosophila

It is the precise connectivity between skeletal muscles and their corresponding tendon cells to form a functional myotendinous junction (MTJ) that allows for the force generation required for muscle contraction and organismal movement. The Drosophila MTJ is composed of secreted extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins deposited between integrin-mediated hemi-adherens junctions on the surface of muscle and tendon cells. In this paper, we have identified a novel, cytoplasmic role for the canonical nuclear import protein Moleskin (Msk) in Drosophila embryonic somatic muscle attachment. Msk protein is enriched at muscle attachment sites in late embryogenesis and msk mutant embryos exhibit a failure in muscle-tendon cell attachment. Although the muscle-tendon attachment sites are reduced in size, components of the integrin complexes and ECM proteins are properly localized in msk mutant embryos. However, msk mutants fail to localize phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (pFAK) to the sites of muscle-tendon cell junctions. In addition, the tendon cell specific proteins Stripe (Sr) and activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) are reduced in msk mutant embryos. Our rescue experiments demonstrate that Msk is required in the muscle cell, but not in the tendon cells. Moreover, muscle attachment defects due to loss of Msk are rescued by an activated form of MAPK or the secreted epidermal growth factor receptor (Egfr) ligand Vein. Taken together, these findings provide strong evidence that Msk signals non-autonomously through the Vein-Egfr signaling pathway for late tendon cell late differentiation and/or maintenance.

Helicobacter pylori CagA disrupts epithelial patterning by activating myosin light chain

Helicobacter pylori infection is a leading cause of ulcers and gastric cancer. We show that expression of the H. pylori virulence factor CagA in a model Drosophila melanogaster epithelium induces morphological disruptions including ectopic furrowing. We find that CagA alters the distribution and increases the levels of activated myosin regulatory light chain (MLC), a key regulator of epithelial integrity. Reducing MLC activity suppresses CagA-induced disruptions. A CagA mutant lacking EPIYA motifs (CagA^EPISA) induces less epithelial disruption and is not targeted to apical foci like wild-type CagA. In a cell culture model in which CagA^EPISA and CagA have equivalent subcellular localization, CagA^EPISA is equally potent in activating MLC. Therefore, in our transgenic system, CagA is targeted by EPIYA motifs to a specific apical region of the epithelium where it efficiently activates MLC to disrupt epithelial integrity.

Essential role for Ptpn11 in survival of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

Src homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase 2 (Shp2), encoded by Ptpn11, is a member of the nonreceptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase family, and functions in cell survival, proliferation, migration, and differentiation in many tissues. Here we report that loss of Ptpn11 in murine hematopoietic cells leads to bone marrow aplasia and lethality. Mutant mice show rapid loss of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and immature progenitors of all hematopoietic lineages in a gene dosage-dependent and cell-autonomous manner. Ptpn11-deficient HSCs and progenitors undergo apoptosis concomitant with increased Noxa expression. Mutant HSCs/progenitors also show defective Erk and Akt activation in response to stem cell factor and diminished thrombopoietin-evoked Erk activation. Activated Kras alleviates the Ptpn11 requirement for colony formation by progenitors and cytokine/growth factor responsiveness of HSCs, indicating that Ras is functionally downstream of Shp2 in these cells. Thus, Shp2 plays a critical role in controlling the survival and maintenance of HSCs and immature progenitors in vivo.

SHP-2 expression negatively regulates NK cell function

Src homology region 2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP-2) is required for full activation of Ras/ERK in many cytokine and growth factor receptor signaling pathways. In contrast, SHP-2 inhibits activation of human NK cells upon recruitment to killer cell Ig-like receptors (KIR). To determine how SHP-2 impacts NK cell activation in KIR-dependent or KIR-independent signaling pathways, we employed knockdown and overexpression strategies in NK-like cell lines and analyzed the consequences on functional responses. In response to stimulation with susceptible target cells, SHP-2-silenced NK cells had elevated cytolytic activity and IFN-gamma production, whereas cells overexpressing wild-type or gain-of-function mutants of SHP-2 exhibited dampened activities. Increased levels of SHP-2 expression over this range significantly suppressed microtubule organizing center polarization and granzyme B release in response to target cells. Interestingly, NK-target cell conjugation was only reduced by overexpressing SHP-2, but not potentiated in SHP-2-silenced cells, indicating that conjugation is not influenced by physiological levels of SHP-2 expression. KIR-dependent inhibition of cytotoxicity was unaffected by significant reductions in SHP-2 levels, presumably because KIR were still capable of recruiting the phosphatase under these limiting conditions. In contrast, the general suppressive effect of SHP-2 on cytotoxicity and cytokine release was much more sensitive to changes in cellular SHP-2 levels. In summary, our studies have identified a new, KIR-independent role for SHP-2 in dampening NK cell activation in response to tumor target cells in a concentration-dependent manner. This suppression of activation impacts microtubule organizing center-based cytoskeletal rearrangement and granule release.

Nuclear localization of the ERK MAP kinase mediated by Drosophila alphaPS2betaPS integrin and importin-7

The control of gene expression by the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) requires its translocation into the nucleus. In Drosophila S2 cells nuclear accumulation of diphospho-ERK (dpERK) is greatly reduced by interfering double-stranded RNA against Drosophila importin-7 (DIM-7) or by the expression of integrin mutants, either during active cell spreading or after stimulation by insulin. In both cases, total ERK phosphorylation (on Westerns) is not significantly affected, and ERK accumulates in a perinuclear ring. Tyrosine phosphorylation of DIM-7 is reduced in cells expressing integrin mutants, indicating a mechanistic link between these components. DIM-7 and integrins localize to the same actin-containing peripheral regions in spreading cells, but DIM-7 is not concentrated in paxillin-positive focal contacts or stable focal adhesions. The Corkscrew (SHP-2) tyrosine phosphatase binds DIM-7, and Corkscrew is required for the cortical localization of DIM-7. These data suggest a model in which ERK phosphorylation must be spatially coupled to integrin-mediated DIM-7 activation to make a complex that can be imported efficiently. Moreover, dpERK nuclear import can be restored in DIM-7-deficient cells by Xenopus Importin-7, demonstrating that ERK import is an evolutionarily conserved function of this protein.

A new hepatocytic isoform of PLZF lacking the BTB domain interacts with ATP7B, the Wilson disease protein, and positively regulates ERK signal transduction

The promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) protein has been described as a transcriptional repressor of the BTB-domain/zinc-finger family, and shown to regulate the expression of Hox genes during embryogenesis and the expression of cyclin A in the cell cycle progression. Here, a 45-kDa isoform of PLZF without a BTB domain was identified via yeast two-hybrid screening using the C-terminal region of ATP7B as bait in our determination of the biological roles of the Wilson disease protein outside of its copper-binding domain. Our immunoprecipitation experiments showed that the hepatocytic isoform of PLZF could specifically interact with the C-terminal region of ATP7B. The immunostaining of HepG2 cells revealed that the ATP7B and PLZF proteins were apparently colocalized into the trans-Golgi complexes. It was also determined that disruption of PLZF expression in the HepG2 cells affected an attenuation of ERK activity in a dose-dependent manner. The hepatocytic activities of ERK kinase were found to be enhanced as the result of PLZF or ATP7B expression, but this enhancement was abrogated by the deletion of the C-terminal region of ATP7B. Furthermore, a transgenic Drosophila strain that ectopically expressed the hepatocytic deltaBTB-PLZF exhibited phenotypic changes in eye and wing development, and these alterations were fully recovered as the result of ATP7B expression, indicating the obvious in vivo interaction between the two proteins. Those PLZF-induced abnormalities were attributed to the enhancement of ERK signaling, as was shown by phenotypic reversions with loss-of-function mutations in ERK signal transduction in Drosophila. These data suggest the existence of a mechanism that regulates ERK signaling via the C-terminus of ATP7B and the ATP7B-interacting hepatocytic PLZF.

Sprouty proteins are in vivo targets of Corkscrew/SHP-2 tyrosine phosphatases

Drosophila Corkscrew protein and its vertebrate ortholog SHP-2(now known as Ptpn11) positively modulate receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)signaling during development, but how these tyrosine phosphatases promote tyrosine kinase signaling is not well understood. Sprouty proteins are tyrosine-phosphorylated RTK feedback inhibitors, but their regulation and mechanism of action are also poorly understood. Here, we show that Corkscrew/SHP-2 proteins control Sprouty phosphorylation and function. Genetic experiments demonstrate that Corkscrew/SHP-2 and Sprouty proteins have opposite effects on RTK-mediated developmental events in Drosophilaand an RTK signaling process in cultured mammalian cells, and the genes display dose-sensitive genetic interactions. In cultured cells, inactivation of SHP-2 increases phosphorylation on the critical tyrosine of Sprouty 1. SHP-2 associates in a complex with Sprouty 1 in cultured cells and in vitro,and a purified SHP-2 protein dephosphorylates the critical tyrosine of Sprouty 1. Substrate-trapping forms of Corkscrew bind Sprouty in cultured Drosophila cells and the developing eye. These results identify Sprouty proteins as in vivo targets of Corkscrew/SHP-2 tyrosine phosphatases and show how Corkscrew/SHP-2 proteins can promote RTK signaling by inactivating a feedback inhibitor. We propose that this double-negative feedback circuit shapes the output profile of RTK signaling events.

Nucleotide variation in the Egfr locus of Drosophila melanogaster

The Epidermal growth factor receptor is an essential gene with diverse pleiotropic roles in development throughout the animal kingdom. Analysis of sequence diversity in 10.9 kb covering the complete coding region and 6.4 kb of potential regulatory regions in a sample of 250 alleles from three populations of Drosophila melanogaster suggests that the intensity of different population genetic forces varies along the locus. A total of 238 independent common SNPs and 20 indel polymorphisms were detected, with just six common replacements affecting >1475 amino acids, four of which are in the short alternate first exon. Sequence diversity is lowest in a 2-kb portion of intron 2, which is also highly conserved in comparison with D. simulans and D. pseudoobscura. Linkage disequilibrium decays to background levels within 500 bp of most sites, so haplotypes are generally restricted to up to 5 polymorphisms. The two North American samples from North Carolina and California have diverged in allele frequency at a handful of individual SNPs, but a Kenyan sample is both more divergent and more polymorphic. The effect of sample size on inference of the roles of population structure, uneven recombination, and weak selection in patterning nucleotide variation in the locus is discussed.

FGF signalling and the mechanism of mesoderm spreading inDrosophilaembryos

FGF signalling is needed for the proper establishment of the mesodermal cell layer in Drosophila embryos. The activation of the FGF receptor Heartless triggers the di-phosphorylation of MAPK in the mesoderm, which accumulates in a graded fashion with the highest levels seen at the dorsal edge of the mesoderm. We have examined the specific requirement for FGF signalling in the spreading process. We show that only the initial step of spreading, specifically the establishment of contact between the ectoderm and the mesoderm, depends upon FGF signalling, and that unlike the role of FGF signalling in the differentiation of heart precursors this function cannot be replaced by other receptor tyrosine kinases. The initiation of mesoderm spreading requires the FGF receptor to possess a functional kinase domain, but does not depend upon the activation of MAPK. Thus, the dispersal of the mesoderm at early stages is regulated by pathways downstream of the FGF receptor that are independent of the MAPK cascade. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the activation of MAPK by Heartless needs additional cues from the ectoderm. We propose that FGF signalling is required during the initial stages of mesoderm spreading to promote the efficient interaction of the mesoderm with the ectoderm rather than having a long range chemotactic function, and we discuss this in relation to the cellular mechanism of mesoderm spreading.

Downstream-of-FGFR is a fibroblast growth factor-specific scaffolding protein and recruits Corkscrew upon receptor activation

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor (FGFR) signaling controls the migration of glial, mesodermal, and tracheal cells in Drosophila melanogaster. Little is known about the molecular events linking receptor activation to cytoskeletal rearrangements during cell migration. We have performed a functional characterization of Downstream-of-FGFR (Dof), a putative adapter protein that acts specifically in FGFR signal transduction in Drosophila. By combining reverse genetic, cell culture, and biochemical approaches, we demonstrate that Dof is a specific substrate for the two Drosophila FGFRs. After defining a minimal Dof rescue protein, we identify two regions important for Dof function in mesodermal and tracheal cell migration. The N-terminal 484 amino acids are strictly required for the interaction of Dof with the FGFRs. Upon receptor activation, tyrosine residue 515 becomes phosphorylated and recruits the phosphatase Corkscrew (Csw). Csw recruitment represents an essential step in FGF-induced cell migration and in the activation of the Ras/MAPK pathway. However, our results also indicate that the activation of Ras is not sufficient to activate the migration machinery in tracheal and mesodermal cells. Additional proteins binding either to the FGFRs, to Dof, or to Csw appear to be crucial for a chemotactic response.

Shp2 regulates SRC family kinase activity and Ras/Erk activation by controlling Csk recruitment

The protein-tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 plays an essential role in growth factor and integrin signaling, and Shp2 mutations cause developmental defects and/or malignancy. Previous work has placed Shp2 upstream of Ras. However, the mechanism of Shp2 action and its substrate(s) are poorly defined. Additional Shp2 functions downstream of, or parallel to, Ras/Erk activation also are proposed. Here, we show that Shp2 promotes Src family kinase (SFK) activation by regulating the phosphorylation of the Csk regulator PAG/Cbp, thereby controlling Csk access to SFKs. In Shp2-deficient cells, SFK inhibitory C-terminal tyrosines are hyperphosphorylated, and the tyrosyl phosphorylation of multiple SFK substrates, including Plcgamma1, is decreased. Decreased Plcgamma1 phosphorylation leads to defective Ras activation on endomembranes, and may help account for impaired Erk activation in Shp2-deficient cells. Decreased phosphorylation/activation of other SFK substrates may explain additional consequences of Shp2 deficiency, including altered cell spreading, stress fibers, focal adhesions, and motility.

Acute induction of conserved synaptic signaling pathways in Drosophila melanogaster

Analyses of early molecular and cellular events associated with long-term plasticity remain hampered in Drosophila by the lack of an acute procedure to activate signal transduction pathways, gene expression patterns, and other early cellular events associated with long-term synaptic change. Here we describe the development and first use of such a technique. Bursts of neural activity induced in Drosophila comatosets and CaP60A Kumts mutants, with conditional defects in N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion factor 1 and sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase, respectively, result in persistent (>4 hr) activation of neuronal extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). ERK activation at the larval neuromuscular junction coincides with rapid reduction of synaptic Fasciclin II; in soma, nuclear translocation of activated ERK occurs together with increased transcription of the immediate-early genes Fos and c/EBP (CCAAT element binding protein). The effect of "seizure-stimulation" on ERK activation requires neural activity and is mediated through activation of MEK (MAPK/erk kinase), the MAPKK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase) that functions upstream of ERK. Our results (1) provide direct proof for the conservation of synaptic signaling pathways in arthropods, (2) demonstrate the utility of a new genetic tool for analysis of synaptic plasticity in Drosophila, and (3) potentially enable new proteomic and genomic analyses of activity-regulated molecules in an important model organism.

Acute induction of conserved synaptic signaling pathways in Drosophila melanogaster

Analyses of early molecular and cellular events associated with long-term plasticity remain hampered in Drosophila by the lack of an acute procedure to activate signal transduction pathways, gene expression patterns, and other early cellular events associated with long-term synaptic change. Here we describe the development and first use of such a technique. Bursts of neural activity induced in Drosophila comatosets and CaP60A Kumts mutants, with conditional defects in N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion factor 1 and sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase, respectively, result in persistent (>4 hr) activation of neuronal extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). ERK activation at the larval neuromuscular junction coincides with rapid reduction of synaptic Fasciclin II; in soma, nuclear translocation of activated ERK occurs together with increased transcription of the immediate-early genes Fos and c/EBP (CCAAT element binding protein). The effect of "seizure-stimulation" on ERK activation requires neural activity and is mediated through activation of MEK (MAPK/erk kinase), the MAPKK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase) that functions upstream of ERK. Our results (1) provide direct proof for the conservation of synaptic signaling pathways in arthropods, (2) demonstrate the utility of a new genetic tool for analysis of synaptic plasticity in Drosophila, and (3) potentially enable new proteomic and genomic analyses of activity-regulated molecules in an important model organism.

The 'Shp'ing news: SH2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatases in cell signaling

Src homology-2 (SH2) domain-containing phosphatases (Shps) are a small, highly conserved subfamily of protein-tyrosine phosphatases, members of which are present in both vertebrates and invertebrates. The mechanism of regulation of Shps by ligand binding is now well understood. Much is also known about the normal signaling pathways regulated by each Shp and the consequences of Shp deficiency. Recent studies have identified mutations in human Shp2 as the cause of the inherited disorder Noonan syndrome. Shp2 mutations might also contribute to the pathogenesis of some leukemias. In addition, Shp2 might be a key virulence determinant for the important human pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Despite these efforts, however, the key targets of each Shp have remained elusive. Identifying these substrates remains a major challenge for future research.

Contrasting selection pressures on components of the Ras-mediated signal transduction pathway in Drosophila

The molecular genetics of several signal transduction pathways is well characterized, providing an opportunity to address the nature of the population genetic forces acting on functionally related suites of pleiotropic regulatory genes. Signal transduction is the process by which signals are transmitted from the cell surface to the nucleus or other cellular structures. It plays a fundamental role in regulating a wide range of developmental and physiological processes, many of which are likely to be subject to buffering mechanisms. Here we infer that contrasting selection pressures act on six components of the Ras signal transduction pathway by comparing sequences obtained from 25 alleles of Drosophila melanogaster with one allele of the sibling species D. simulans. The three most upstream components of the cascade, Ras, Drk and polehole, experience strong purifying selection, as they show no fixed amino acid differences between the species and just a handful of rare replacement polymorphisms within D. melanogaster. This portion of the pathway is likely to act as a control point in signal transduction, because the more downstream components Dsor1, corkscrew and Ksr, each show several amino acid replacements between the species. Furthermore, Ksr is nearly monomorphic within D. melanogaster, and application of the HKA and McDonald and Kreitman tests indicate that this gene may have experienced a recent selective sweep, suggesting that modifiers of Ras kinase signalling are the most likely source of quantitative variation associated with this core regulatory pathway.

Genetic identification of effectors downstream of Neu (ErbB-2) autophosphorylation sites in a Drosophila model

The ErbB-2/Neu receptor tyrosine kinase plays a causal role in tumorigenesis in mammals. Neu's carboxyl terminus contains five phosphorylated tyrosines that mediate transformation through interaction with cytoplasmic SH2 or PTB containing adaptor proteins. We show that Drosophila adaptors signal from individual phosphotyrosine sites of rat Neu. Activated Neu expression in the midline glia suppressed apoptosis, similar to that seen with activated Drosophila EGF-R expression. Expression in eye and wing tissues generated graded phenotypes suitable for dosage-sensitive modifier genetics. Suppression of ErbB-2/Neu-induced phenotypes in tissues haplosufficient for genes encoding adaptor protein or second messengers suggests that pTyr 1227(YD) signals require Shc, and that pTyr 1253 (YE) signalling does not employ Ras, but does require Raf function. Signalling from pTyr (YB) was affected by a haplosufficiency in drk (Grb-2), and in genes thought to function downstream of Grb-2: dab, sos, csw (Shp-2), and dos (Gab-1). These data demonstrate the power of Drosophila genetics to unmask the molecules that signal from oncogenic ErbB-2/Neu.

The "Gab" in signal transduction

Tyrosine phosphorylation plays an important role in controlling cellular growth, differentiation and function. Abnormal regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation can result in human diseases such as cancer. A major challenge of signal transduction research is to determine how the initial activation of protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs) by extracellular stimuli triggers multiple downstream signaling cascades, which ultimately elicit diverse cellular responses. Recent studies reveal that members of the Gab/Dos subfamily of scaffolding adaptor proteins (hereafter, "Gab proteins") play a crucial role in transmitting key signals that control cell growth, differentiation and function from multiple receptors. Here, we review the structure, mechanism of action and function of these interesting molecules in normal biology and disease.

Genetic Interaction Between Integrins and moleskin, a Gene Encoding a Drosophila Homolog of Importin-7

The Drosophila PS1 and PS2 integrins are required to maintain the connection between the dorsal and ventral wing epithelia. If αPS subunits are inappropriately expressed during early pupariation, the epithelia separate, causing a wing blister. Two lines of evidence indicate that this apparent loss-of-function phenotype is not a dominant negative effect, but is due to inappropriate expression of functional integrins: wing blisters are not generated efficiently by misexpression of loss-of-function αPS2 subunits with mutations that inhibit ligand binding, and gain-of-function, hyperactivated mutant αPS2 proteins cause blistering at expression levels well below those required by wild-type proteins. A genetic screen for dominant suppressors of wing blisters generated null alleles of a gene named moleskin, which encodes the protein DIM-7. DIM-7, a Drosophila homolog of vertebrate importin-7, has recently been shown to bind the SHP-2 tyrosine phosphatase homolog Corkscrew and to be important in the nuclear translocation of activated D-ERK. Consistent with this latter finding, homozygous mutant clones of moleskin fail to grow in the wing. Genetic tests suggest that the moleskin suppression of wing blisters is not directly related to inhibition of D-ERK nuclear import. These data are discussed with respect to the possible regulation of integrin function by cytoplasmic ERK.