a modifier screen for bazookapar-3 interacting genes in the drosophila embryo epithelium修改器屏幕交互bazookapar-3基因在果蝇胚胎上皮细胞.pdfVIP

A Modifier Screen for Bazooka/PAR-3 Interacting Genes in the Drosophila Embryo Epithelium Wei Shao., Johnny Wu., Jeyla Chen., Donghoon M. Lee, Alisa Tishkina, Tony J. C. Harris* Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Abstract Background: The development and homeostasis of multicellular organisms depends on sheets of epithelial cells. Bazooka (Baz; PAR-3) localizes to the apical circumference of epithelial cells and is a key hub in the protein interaction network regulating epithelial structure. We sought to identify additional proteins that function with Baz to regulate epithelial structure in the Drosophila embryo. Methodology/Principal Findings: The baz zygotic mutant cuticle phenotype could be dominantly enhanced by loss of known interaction partners. To identify additional enhancers, we screened molecularly defined chromosome 2 and 3 deficiencies. 37 deficiencies acted as strong dominant enhancers. Using deficiency mapping, bioinformatics, and available single gene mutations, we identified 17 interacting genes encoding known and predicted polarity, cytoskeletal, transmembrane, trafficking and signaling proteins. For each gene, their loss of function enhanced adherens junction defects in zygotic baz mutants during early embryogenesis. To further evaluate involvement in epithelial polarity, we generated GFP fusion proteins for 15 of the genes which had not been found to localize to the apical domain previously. We found that GFP fusion proteins for Drosophila ASAP, Arf79F, CG11210, Septin 5 and Sds22 could be recruited to the apical circumference of epithelial cells. Nine of the other proteins showed various intracellular distributions, and one was not