Essential roles of the Tap42-regulated protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) family in wing imaginal disc development of Drosophila melanogaster

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 7; no. 6; p. e38569
• Main Authors: Wang, Ning, Leung, Hung-Tat, Mazalouskas, Matthew D, Watkins, Guy R, Gomez, Rey J, Wadzinski, Brian E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 06.06.2012; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adults; Animals; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - genetics; Apoptosis - physiology; Biological activity; Biology; Cell cycle; Cell division; Cell growth; Defects; Drosophila; Drosophila melanogaster - enzymology; Drosophila melanogaster - growth & development; Drosophila notum; Drosophila Proteins - genetics; Drosophila Proteins - metabolism; Enzymes; Genes; Imaginal discs; Imaginal Discs - enzymology; Imaginal Discs - growth & development; Immunohistochemistry; In vivo methods and tests; Insects; JNK protein; Kinases; Laboratories; Morphogenesis; Morphogenesis - physiology; Pharmacology; Phosphatase; Phosphatases; Phosphoprotein phosphatase; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases - metabolism; Protein phosphatase; Proteins; Regulation; RNA Interference; RNA-mediated interference; Signal transduction; Signal Transduction - genetics; Signal Transduction - physiology; Signaling; Survival; Thorax; Transcription Factors - genetics; Wing discs; Wings; Wings, Animal - growth & development; Yeast; United States > US; Tennessee; Nashville Tennessee
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038569

Protein ser/thr phosphatase 2A family members (PP2A, PP4, and PP6) are implicated in the control of numerous biological processes, but our understanding of the in vivo function and regulation of these enzymes is limited. In this study, we investigated the role of Tap42, a common regulatory subunit for all three PP2A family members, in the development of Drosophila melanogaster wing imaginal discs. RNAi-mediated silencing of Tap42 using the binary Gal4/UAS system and two disc drivers, pnr- and ap-Gal4, not only decreased survival rates but also hampered the development of wing discs, resulting in a remarkable thorax cleft and defective wings in adults. Silencing of Tap42 also altered multiple signaling pathways (HH, JNK and DPP) and triggered apoptosis in wing imaginal discs. The Tap42(RNAi)-induced defects were the direct result of loss of regulation of Drosophila PP2A family members (MTS, PP4, and PPV), as enforced expression of wild type Tap42, but not a phosphatase binding defective Tap42 mutant, rescued fly survivorship and defects. The experimental platform described herein identifies crucial roles for Tap42•phosphatase complexes in governing imaginal disc and fly development.