Notch inhibits Yorkie activity in Drosophila wing discs

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 9; no. 8; p. e106211
• Main Authors: Djiane, Alexandre, Zaessinger, Sophie, Babaoğlan, A Burcu, Bray, Sarah J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 26.08.2014; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis; Biology and Life Sciences; Cancer; Cell cycle; Cell growth; Cell number; Cell Proliferation; Cell size; Crosstalk; Development Biology; Drosophila; Drosophila melanogaster - metabolism; Drosophila Proteins - genetics; Drosophila Proteins - metabolism; Drosophila Proteins - physiology; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Genes; Imaginal discs; Imaginal Discs - cytology; Imaginal Discs - metabolism; Insects; Kinases; Life Sciences; Neurosciences; Notch protein; Nuclear Proteins - genetics; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Organs; Patterning; Physiology; Proteins; Receptors, Notch - physiology; Research and Analysis Methods; Signal Transduction; Signaling; Tissues; Trans-Activators - genetics; Trans-Activators - metabolism; Transcription; Transcription factors; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transcription, Genetic; Warts; Wing discs; YAP-Signaling Proteins; United Kingdom > UK; France
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106211

During development, tissues and organs must coordinate growth and patterning so they reach the right size and shape. During larval stages, a dramatic increase in size and cell number of Drosophila wing imaginal discs is controlled by the action of several signaling pathways. Complex cross-talk between these pathways also pattern these discs to specify different regions with different fates and growth potentials. We show that the Notch signaling pathway is both required and sufficient to inhibit the activity of Yorkie (Yki), the Salvador/Warts/Hippo (SWH) pathway terminal transcription activator, but only in the central regions of the wing disc, where the TEAD factor and Yki partner Scalloped (Sd) is expressed. We show that this cross-talk between the Notch and SWH pathways is mediated, at least in part, by the Notch target and Sd partner Vestigial (Vg). We propose that, by altering the ratios between Yki, Sd and Vg, Notch pathway activation restricts the effects of Yki mediated transcription, therefore contributing to define a zone of low proliferation in the central wing discs.