A non-canonical Raf function is required for dorsal–ventral patterning during Drosophila embryogenesis

Lusk, Jay B., Chua, Ellora Hui Zhen, Kaur, Prameet, Sung, Isabelle Chiao Han, Lim, Wen Kin, Lam, Vanessa Yuk Man, Harmston, Nathan and Tolwinski, Nicholas S. 2022. A non-canonical Raf function is required for dorsal–ventral patterning during Drosophila embryogenesis. Scientific Reports 12 , 7684. 10.1038/s41598-022-11699-3

Preview

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (5MB) | Preview

Abstract

Proper embryonic development requires directional axes to pattern cells into embryonic structures. In Drosophila, spatially discrete expression of transcription factors determines the anterior to posterior organization of the early embryo, while the Toll and TGFβ signalling pathways determine the early dorsal to ventral pattern. Embryonic MAPK/ERK signaling contributes to both anterior to posterior patterning in the terminal regions and to dorsal to ventral patterning during oogenesis and embryonic stages. Here we describe a novel loss of function mutation in the Raf kinase gene, which leads to loss of ventral cell fates as seen through the loss of the ventral furrow, the absence of Dorsal/NFκB nuclear localization, the absence of mesoderm determinants Twist and Snail, and the expansion of TGFβ. Gene expression analysis showed cells adopting ectodermal fates much like loss of Toll signaling. Our results combine novel mutants, live imaging, optogenetics and transcriptomics to establish a novel role for Raf, that appears to be independent of the MAPK cascade, in embryonic patterning.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Biosciences
Publisher:	Nature Research
ISSN:	2045-2322
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	26 September 2023
Date of Acceptance:	28 April 2022
Last Modified:	03 Oct 2023 16:32
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/162773

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item