Apical deficiency triggers JNK-dependent apoptosis in the embryonic epidermis of Drosophila

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.059980
• Publication Date: 2011-06-21T11:44:10Z
• Authors: Golnar Kolahgar; Pierre-Luc Bardet; Paul F. Langton; Cyrille Alexandre; Jean-Paul Vincent
• Keywords: Adherens junction; Epidermis (zoology); Ectopic expression

Epithelial homeostasis and the avoidance of diseases such as cancer require elimination defective cells by apoptosis. Here, we investigate how loss apical determinants triggers apoptosis in embryonic epidermis Drosophila. Transcriptional profiling situ hybridisation show that JNK signalling is upregulated mutants lacking Crumbs or other determinants. This leads to transcriptional activation pro-apoptotic gene reaper Suppression overexpression Puckered, a feedback inhibitor pathway, prevents upregulation Moreover, removal endogenous Puckered ectopic expression. Importantly, disruption basolateral domain does not trigger We suggest apical, basolateral, integrity could be intrinsically required for survival epithelial cells. In apically deficient embryos, activated throughout epidermis. Yet, dorsal region, expression survive. One characteristic these surviving they retain discernible adherens junctions despite deficit. junctional restrain influence signalling.