Polarity determination in the Drosophila eye: a novel role for unpaired and JAK/STAT signaling

Genes Dev. 1999 May 15;13(10):1342-53. doi: 10.1101/gad.13.10.1342.

Abstract

The JAK/STAT signaling pathway is required for many processes including cytokine signaling, hematopoiesis, gliagenesis, and Drosophila segmentation. In this report we present evidence demonstrating that the JAK/STAT pathway is also central to the establishment of planar polarity during Drosophila eye development. We show that a localized source of the pathway ligand, Unpaired, is present at the midline of the developing eye, which is capable of activating the JAK/STAT pathway over long distances. A gradient of JAK/STAT activity across the DV axis of the eye regulates ommatidial polarity via an unidentified second signal. Additionally, localized Unpaired influences the position of the equator via repression of mirror.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Patterning*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Drosophila / embryology*
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Eye / embryology*
  • Glycoproteins / physiology*
  • Janus Kinase 1
  • Janus Kinases
  • Models, Biological
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / physiology*
  • STAT Transcription Factors
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Trans-Activators / physiology*
  • Transcription Factors*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Glycoproteins
  • STAT Transcription Factors
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • Stat92E protein, Drosophila
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • upd1 protein, Drosophila
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Janus Kinase 1
  • Janus Kinases
  • hop protein, Drosophila