Interaction of the pelle kinase with the membrane-associated protein tube is required for transduction of the dorsoventral signal in Drosophila embryos

R. L. Galindo, D. N. Edwards, S. K H Gillespie, S. A. Wasserman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

70 Scopus citations

Abstract

Within the Drosophila embryo, tube and the protein kinase pelle transduce an intracellular signal generated by the transmembrane receptor Toll. This signal directs import of the rel-related protein dorsal into ventral and ventrolateral nuclei, thereby establishing dorsoventral polarity. We show by immunolocalization that tube protein associates with the plasma membrane during interphase. We also find that tube sequences required for signaling interact with pelle in a yeast two-hybrid assay. We demonstrate that fusion of the pelle catalytic domain to the transmembrane receptor torso is sufficient to induce ventral fates; this activity is independent of Toll or tube. Lastly, we find that fusion of the tube protein to torso also induces ventral fates, but only in the presence of functional pelle. We propose a model wherein tube activates pelle by recruiting it to the plasma membrane, thereby propagating the axis-determining signal.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2209-2218
Number of pages10
JournalDevelopment
Volume121
Issue number7
StatePublished - Jul 1995

Keywords

  • Drosophila
  • Pelle kinase
  • Rel protein
  • Signal transduction
  • Toll
  • Torso
  • Tube
  • Two-hybrid

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology

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