The Crumbs_C isoform of Drosophila shows tissue- and stage-specific expression and prevents light-dependent retinal degeneration

Biology Open

卷:6

Marcos Gonzalez-Gaitan¹  Gregor Jessberger²  Rosana Blawid²  Stephanie Spannl²  Sylke Winkler²  Katja Kapp²  Sarita Hebbar²  Elisabeth Knust²  Alexandra Kumichel² 

[1] Department of Biochemistry, Sciences II, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, Geneva 4 1211, Switzerland;

[2] Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, Dresden 01307, Germany;

关键词: Epithelial polarity;    EGF-like repeat;    Alternative splicing;    Mutually exclusive exon;   

DOI  :  10.1242/bio.020040

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Drosophila Crumbs (Crb) is a key regulator of epithelial polarity and fulfils a plethora of other functions, such as growth regulation, morphogenesis of photoreceptor cells and prevention of retinal degeneration. This raises the question how a single gene regulates such diverse functions, which in mammals are controlled by three different paralogs. Here, we show that in Drosophila different Crb protein isoforms are differentially expressed as a result of alternative splicing. All isoforms are transmembrane proteins that differ by just one EGF-like repeat in their extracellular portion. Unlike Crb_A, which is expressed in most embryonic epithelia from early stages onward, Crb_C is expressed later and only in a subset of embryonic epithelia. Flies specifically lacking Crb_C are homozygous viable and fertile. Strikingly, these flies undergo light-dependent photoreceptor degeneration despite the fact that the other isoforms are expressed and properly localised at the stalk membrane. This allele now provides an ideal possibility to further unravel the molecular mechanisms by which Drosophila crb protects photoreceptor cells from the detrimental consequences of light-induced cell stress.

【 授权许可】

Unknown