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Bicaudal C and trailer hitch have similar roles in gurken mRNA localization and cytoskeletal organization.

ABSTRACT: Bicaudal C and trailer hitch are both required for dorsoventral patterning of the Drosophila oocyte. Each mutant produces ventralized eggs, a phenotype typically associated with failure of the oocyte to provide a dorsalization signal--the Gurken protein--to the follicle cells. Bicaudal C and trailer hitch are both implicated in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Bicaudal C acts in recruiting a deadenylase to specific mRNAs, leading to translational repression. The role of trailer hitch is less well defined, but mutants have defects in protein secretion, and show aberrant distribution of an endoplasmic reticulum exit site marker whose mRNA is associated with Trailer hitch protein. We show that Bicaudal C and trailer hitch interact genetically. Mutants of these two genes have shared defects in localization of gurken and other anteriorly-localized mRNAs, as well as altered microtubule organization which may underlie the mRNA localization defects. Bicaudal C and trailer hitch mutants also share a syndrome of actin-related abnormalities, including the formation of ectopic actin cages near the anterior of the oocyte. The cages sequester Gurken protein, blocking its secretion and thus interfering with signaling of the follicle cells to specify dorsal fate.

SUBMITTER: Snee MJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2850203 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Bicaudal C and trailer hitch have similar roles in gurken mRNA localization and cytoskeletal organization.

Snee Mark J MJ Macdonald Paul M PM

Developmental biology 20090213 2

Bicaudal C and trailer hitch are both required for dorsoventral patterning of the Drosophila oocyte. Each mutant produces ventralized eggs, a phenotype typically associated with failure of the oocyte to provide a dorsalization signal--the Gurken protein--to the follicle cells. Bicaudal C and trailer hitch are both implicated in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Bicaudal C acts in recruiting a deadenylase to specific mRNAs, leading to translational repression. The role of trailer hitch is les ...[more]

PMID: 19217894

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Bioelectrical signals are known to be involved in the generation of cell and tissue polarity as well as in cytoskeletal dynamics. The epithelium of Drosophila ovarian follicles is a suitable model system for studying connections between electrochemical gradients, patterns of cytoskeletal elements and axial polarity. By interactions between soma and germline cells, the transforming growth factor-? homolog Gurken (Grk) establishes both the anteroposterior and the dorsoventral axis during oogenesis. RESULTS:In the follicular epithelium of the wild-type (wt) and the polarity mutant grk, we analysed stage-specific gradients of membrane potentials (Vmem) and intracellular pH (pHi) using the potentiometric dye DiBAC4(3) and the fluorescent pH-indicator 5-CFDA,AM, respectively. In addition, we compared the cytoskeletal organisation in the follicular epithelium of wt and grk using fluorescent phalloidin and an antibody against acetylated ?-tubulin. Corresponding to impaired polarity in grk, the slope of the anteroposterior Vmem-gradient in stage S9 is significantly reduced compared to wt. Even more striking differences in Vmem- and pHi-patterns become obvious during stage S10B, when the respective dorsoventral gradients are established in wt but not in grk. Concurrent with bioelectrical differences, wt and grk exhibit differences concerning cytoskeletal patterns in the follicular epithelium. During all vitellogenic stages, basal microfilaments in grk are characterised by transversal alignment, while wt-typical condensations in centripetal follicle cells (S9) and in dorsal centripetal follicle cells (S10B) are absent. Moreover, in grk, longitudinal alignment of microtubules occurs throughout vitellogenesis in all follicle cells, whereas in wt, microtubules in mainbody and posterior follicle cells exhibit a more cell-autonomous organisation. Therefore, in contrast to wt, the follicular epithelium in grk is characterised by missing or shallower electrochemical gradients and by more coordinated transcellular cytoskeletal patterns. CONCLUSIONS:Our results show that bioelectrical polarity and cytoskeletal polarity are closely linked to axial polarity in both wt and grk. When primary polarity signals are altered, both bioelectrical and cytoskeletal patterns in the follicular epithelium change. We propose that not only cell-specific levels of Vmem and pHi, or the polarities of transcellular electrochemical gradients, but also the slopes of these gradients are crucial for cytoskeletal modifications and, thus, for proper development of epithelial polarity.

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Bicaudal C and trailer hitch have similar roles in gurken mRNA localization and cytoskeletal organization.

Publications

Bicaudal C and trailer hitch have similar roles in gurken mRNA localization and cytoskeletal organization.

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