Regulation of somatic myosin activity by Protein Phosphatase 1β controls Drosophila oocyte polarization

Yi Sun, Yan Yan, Natalie Denef, Trudi Schüpbach

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Drosophila body axes are established in the oocyte during oogenesis. Oocyte polarization is initiated by Gurken, which signals from the germline through the epidermal growth factor receptor (Egfr) to the posterior follicle cells (PFCs). In response the PFCs generate an unidentified polarizing signal that regulates oocyte polarity. We have identified a loss-of-function mutation of flapwing, which encodes the catalytic subunit of Protein Phosphatase 1β (PP1β) that disrupts oocyte polarization. We show that PP1β, by regulating myosin activity, controls the generation of the polarizing signal. Excessive myosin activity in the PFCs causes oocyte mispolarization and defective Notch signaling and endocytosis in the PFCs. The integrated activation of JAK/STAT and Egfr signaling results in the sensitivity of PFCs to defective Notch. Interestingly, our results also demonstrate a role of PP1β in generating the polarizing signal independently of Notch, indicating a direct involvement of somatic myosin activity in axis formation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1991-2001
Number of pages11
JournalDevelopment
Volume138
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Keywords

  • Drosophila
  • Myosin
  • Oocyte polarity
  • PP1β

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