Genetic Analysis of Punt, a Type II Dpp Receptor That Functions Throughout the Drosophila melanogaster Life Cycle

Corresponding author: Anthea Letsou, Department of Human Genetics, 15 N 2030 E RM 2100, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-5330 E-mail: anthea.letsou@genetics.utah.edu.

Communicating editor: T. SCHÜPBACH

TGF-ß- (transforming growth factor-ß-) mediated signal transduction affects growth and patterning in a variety of organisms. Here we report a genetic characterization of the Drosophila punt gene that encodes a type II serine/threonine kinase TGF-ß/Dpp (Decapentaplegic) receptor. Although the punt gene was originally identified based on its requirement for embryonic dorsal closure, we have documented multiple periods of punt activity throughout the Drosophila life cycle. We demonstrate that potentially related embryonic punt phenotypes, defects in dorsoventral patterning and dorsal closure, correspond to distinct maternal and zygotic requirements for punt. In addition, we document postembryonic requirements for punt activity. The tight correspondence between both embryonic and postembryonic loss-of-function punt and dpp phenotypes implicates a role for Punt in mediating virtually all Dpp signaling events in Drosophila. Finally, our comparison of punt homoallelic and heteroallelic phenotypes provides direct evidence for interallelic complementation. Taken together, these results suggest that the Punt protein functions as a dimer or higher order multimer throughout the Drosophila life cycle.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Serpe and M. B. O'Connor The metalloprotease Tolloid-related and its TGF-{beta}-like substrate Dawdle regulate Drosophila motoneuron axon guidance. Development, December 1, 2006; 133(24): 4969 - 4979. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Parker, J. E. Ellis, M. Q. Nguyen, and K. Arora The divergent TGF-{beta} ligand Dawdle utilizes an activin pathway to influence axon guidance in Drosophila. Development, December 1, 2006; 133(24): 4981 - 4991. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Martin-Blanco, J. C. Pastor-Pareja, and A. Garcia-Bellido From the Cover: JNK and decapentaplegic signaling control adhesiveness and cytoskeleton dynamics during thorax closure in Drosophila PNAS, July 5, 2000; 97(14): 7888 - 7893. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. A. Wharton, J. M. Cook, S. Torres-Schumann, K. de Castro, E. Borod, and D. A. Phillips Genetic Analysis of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein-Related Gene, gbb, Identifies Multiple Requirements During Drosophila Development Genetics, June 1, 1999; 152(2): 629 - 640. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				Q. Zhang, Q. Zheng, and X. Lu A Genetic Screen for Modifiers of Drosophila Src42A Identifies Mutations in Egfr, rolled and a Novel Signaling Gene Genetics, February 1, 1999; 151(2): 697 - 711. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				F Agnes, M Suzanne, and S Noselli The Drosophila JNK pathway controls the morphogenesis of imaginal discs during metamorphosis Development, January 12, 1999; 126(23): 5453 - 5462. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Byars, K. Bates, and A Letsou The dorsal-open group gene raw is required for restricted DJNK signaling during closure Development, January 11, 1999; 126(21): 4913 - 4923. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J Zeitlinger and D Bohmann Thorax closure in Drosophila: involvement of Fos and the JNK pathway Development, January 9, 1999; 126(17): 3947 - 3956. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Y Tomoyasu, M Nakamura, and N Ueno Role of dpp signalling in prepattern formation of the dorsocentral mechanosensory organ in Drosophila melanogaster Development, January 11, 1998; 125(21): 4215 - 4224. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. Raymond, E. Bergeret, M.-C. Dagher, R. Breton, R. Griffin-Shea, and M.-O. Fauvarque The Rac GTPase-activating Protein RotundRacGAP Interferes with Drac1 and Dcdc42 Signalling in Drosophila melanogaster J. Biol. Chem., September 14, 2001; 276(38): 35909 - 35916. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]