The dASPP-dRASSF8 complex regulates cell-cell adhesion during Drosophila retinal morphogenesis

TY - JOUR

T1 - The dASPP-dRASSF8 complex regulates cell-cell adhesion during Drosophila retinal morphogenesis

AU - Langton, Paul F

AU - Colombani, Julien

AU - Chan, Eunice H Y

AU - Wepf, Alexander

AU - Gstaiger, Matthias

AU - Tapon, Nicolas

PY - 2009/12/15

Y1 - 2009/12/15

N2 - BACKGROUND: Adherens junctions (AJs) provide structure to epithelial tissues by connecting adjacent cells through homophilic E-cadherin interactions and are linked to the actin cytoskeleton via the intermediate binding proteins beta-catenin and alpha-catenin. Rather than being static structures, AJs are extensively remodeled during development, allowing the cell rearrangements required for morphogenesis. Several "noncore" AJ components have been identified, which modulate AJs to promote this plasticity but are not absolutely required for cell-cell adhesion.RESULTS: We previously identified dASPP as a positive regulator of dCsk (Drosophila C-terminal Src kinase). Here we show that dRASSF8, the Drosophila RASSF8 homolog, binds to dASPP and that this interaction is required for normal dASPP levels. Our genetic and biochemical data suggest that dRASSF8 acts in concert with dASPP to promote dCsk activity. Both proteins specifically localize to AJs and are mutually required for each other's localization. Furthermore, we observed abnormal E-cadherin localization in mutant pupal retinas, correlating with aberrant cellular arrangements. Loss of dCsk or overexpression of Src elicited similar AJ defects.CONCLUSIONS: Because Src is known to regulate AJs in both Drosophila and mammals, we propose that dASPP and dRASSF8 fine tune cell-cell adhesion during development by directing dCsk and Src activity. We show that the dASPP-dRASSF8 interaction is conserved in humans, suggesting that mammalian ASPP1/2 and RASSF8, which are candidate tumor-suppressor genes, restrict the activity of the Src proto-oncogene.

AB - BACKGROUND: Adherens junctions (AJs) provide structure to epithelial tissues by connecting adjacent cells through homophilic E-cadherin interactions and are linked to the actin cytoskeleton via the intermediate binding proteins beta-catenin and alpha-catenin. Rather than being static structures, AJs are extensively remodeled during development, allowing the cell rearrangements required for morphogenesis. Several "noncore" AJ components have been identified, which modulate AJs to promote this plasticity but are not absolutely required for cell-cell adhesion.RESULTS: We previously identified dASPP as a positive regulator of dCsk (Drosophila C-terminal Src kinase). Here we show that dRASSF8, the Drosophila RASSF8 homolog, binds to dASPP and that this interaction is required for normal dASPP levels. Our genetic and biochemical data suggest that dRASSF8 acts in concert with dASPP to promote dCsk activity. Both proteins specifically localize to AJs and are mutually required for each other's localization. Furthermore, we observed abnormal E-cadherin localization in mutant pupal retinas, correlating with aberrant cellular arrangements. Loss of dCsk or overexpression of Src elicited similar AJ defects.CONCLUSIONS: Because Src is known to regulate AJs in both Drosophila and mammals, we propose that dASPP and dRASSF8 fine tune cell-cell adhesion during development by directing dCsk and Src activity. We show that the dASPP-dRASSF8 interaction is conserved in humans, suggesting that mammalian ASPP1/2 and RASSF8, which are candidate tumor-suppressor genes, restrict the activity of the Src proto-oncogene.

KW - Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics

KW - Animals

KW - Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/genetics

KW - Carrier Proteins/genetics

KW - Cell Adhesion/physiology

KW - Cell Line

KW - Drosophila/embryology

KW - Drosophila Proteins/genetics

KW - Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/physiology

KW - Protein Binding

KW - Retina/embryology

KW - Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics

KW - Wings, Animal

U2 - 10.1016/j.cub.2009.10.027

DO - 10.1016/j.cub.2009.10.027

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19931458

SN - 0960-9822

VL - 19

SP - 1969

EP - 1978

JO - Current Biology

JF - Current Biology

IS - 23

ER -