Abstract
The fundamental roles for the Salvador-Warts-Hippo (SWH) pathway are widely characterized in growth regulation and organ size control. However, the function of SWH pathway is less known in cell fate determination. Here we uncover a novel role of the SWH signaling pathway in determination of cell fate during neural precursor (sensory organ precursor, SOP) development. Inactivation of the SWH pathway in SOP of the wing imaginal discs affects caspase-dependent bristle patterning in an apoptosis-independent process. Such nonapoptotic functions of caspases have been implicated in inflammation, proliferation, cellular remodeling, and cell fate determination. Our data indicate an effect on the Wingless (Wg)/Wnt pathway. Previously, caspases were proposed to cleave and activate a negative regulator of Wg/Wnt signaling, Shaggy (Sgg)/GSK3β. Surprisingly, we found that a noncleavable form of Sgg encoded from the endogenous locus after CRISPR-Cas9 modification supported almost normal bristle patterning, indicating that Sgg might not be the main target of the caspase-dependent nonapoptotic process. Collectively, our results outline a new function of SWH signaling that crosstalks to caspase-dependent nonapoptotic signaling and Wg/Wnt signaling in neural precursor development, which might be implicated in neuronal pathogenesis.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Genetically Modified
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Apoptosis / genetics
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CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 / metabolism
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Caspase Inhibitors / metabolism
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Drosophila Proteins / genetics
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Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
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Drosophila melanogaster / enzymology
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Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
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Drosophila melanogaster / growth & development*
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Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism*
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Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / genetics
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Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism
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Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / genetics
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Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / metabolism
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Larva / enzymology
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Larva / genetics
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Larva / growth & development
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Larva / metabolism
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Membrane Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / metabolism
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Nuclear Proteins / genetics
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
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Organogenesis / genetics
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Protein Kinases / genetics
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Protein Kinases / metabolism*
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Repressor Proteins / genetics
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Repressor Proteins / metabolism
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Signal Transduction / genetics
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Trans-Activators / genetics
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Trans-Activators / metabolism*
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Wings, Animal / enzymology
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Wings, Animal / growth & development
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Wings, Animal / metabolism
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Wnt Signaling Pathway / genetics
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Wnt1 Protein / genetics
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Wnt1 Protein / metabolism*
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YAP-Signaling Proteins
Substances
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Caspase Inhibitors
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DIAP1 protein, Drosophila
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Drosophila Proteins
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Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
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Membrane Proteins
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Nuclear Proteins
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Repressor Proteins
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Trans-Activators
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Wnt1 Protein
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YAP-Signaling Proteins
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Yki protein, Drosophila
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dpp protein, Drosophila
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ex protein, Drosophila
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pan protein, Drosophila
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wg protein, Drosophila
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Protein Kinases
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wts protein, Drosophila
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Sgg protein, Drosophila
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Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
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CRISPR-Associated Protein 9