Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

We have studied the in vivo function and tissue specificity of Dcas, the Drosophila ortholog of CAS, the importin beta-like export receptor for importin alpha. While dcas mRNA is specifically expressed in the embryonic central nervous system, Dcas protein is maternally supplied to all embryonic cells and its nuclear/cytoplasmic distribution varies in different tissues and times in development. Unexpectedly, hypomorphic alleles of dcas show specific transformations in mechano-sensory organ cell identity, characteristic of mutations that increase Notch signaling. Dcas is essential for efficient importin-alpha3 nuclear export in mechano-sensory cells and the surrounding epidermal cells and is indirectly required for the import of one component of the Notch pathway, but not others tested. We interpret the specificity of the dcas phenotype as indicating that one or more Notch signaling components are particularly sensitive to a disruption in nuclear protein import. We propose that mutations in house keeping genes often cause specific developmental phenotypes, such as those observed in many human genetic disorders.

Original publication

DOI

10.1006/dbio.2002.0612

Type

Journal article

Journal

Dev Biol

Publication Date

15/04/2002

Volume

244

Pages

396 - 406

Keywords

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus, Animals, Apoptosis, Cellular Apoptosis Susceptibility Protein, DNA Helicases, Drosophila Proteins, Drosophila melanogaster, Embryo, Nonmammalian, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, In Situ Hybridization, Mechanoreceptors, Morphogenesis, Phylogeny, RNA, Messenger, Sense Organs, alpha Karyopherins