A functional genomic screen combined with time-lapse microscopy uncovers a novel set of genes involved in dorsal closure of Drosophila embryos

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 6; no. 7; p. e22229
• Main Authors: Jankovics, Ferenc, Henn, László, Bujna, Ágnes, Vilmos, Péter, Kiss, Nóra, Erdélyi, Miklós
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 20.07.2011; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Actin; Animals; Automation; Biology; Body Patterning - genetics; Cell adhesion & migration; Cytoskeleton; Defects; Drosophila; Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophila melanogaster - embryology; Drosophila melanogaster - genetics; Drosophila Proteins - deficiency; Drosophila Proteins - genetics; Drosophila Proteins - metabolism; Embryo, Nonmammalian - anatomy & histology; Embryo, Nonmammalian - embryology; Embryonic development; Embryonic Development - genetics; Embryos; Epithelial cells; Epithelium; Epithelium - embryology; Epithelium - metabolism; Gene expression; Genes; Genes, Insect - genetics; Genetic aspects; Genetic testing; Genetics; Genomes; Genomics; Genotype & phenotype; Guanosine triphosphatases; Insects; Male; Microscopy; Morphogenesis; Muscle proteins; Mutation; Regulation; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA Interference; RNA-mediated interference; Signal transduction; Signal Transduction - genetics; Thorax; Time Factors; Tissues; Wound healing; Hungary
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022229

Morphogenesis, the establishment of the animal body, requires the coordinated rearrangement of cells and tissues regulated by a very strictly-determined genetic program. Dorsal closure of the epithelium in the Drosophila melanogaster embryo is one of the best models for such a complex morphogenetic event. To explore the genetic regulation of dorsal closure, we carried out a large-scale RNA interference-based screen in combination with in vivo time-lapse microscopy and identified several genes essential for the closure or affecting its dynamics. One of the novel dorsal closure genes, the small GTPase activator pebble (pbl), was selected for detailed analysis. We show that pbl regulates actin accumulation and protrusion dynamics in the leading edge of the migrating epithelial cells. In addition, pbl affects dorsal closure dynamics by regulating head involution, a morphogenetic process mechanically coupled with dorsal closure. Finally, we provide evidence that pbl is involved in closure of the adult thorax, suggesting its general requirement in epithelial closure processes.