Epithelial to mesenchymal transitions are critical features of the development of most organs and tissues, however the molecular basis of this phenomenon is not well understood. In addition, most tumors are of epithelial origin and acquisition of an invasive phenotype is a critical, but relatively poorly understood step in metastasis. We have developed a model system for a systematic genetic approach to the study of epithelial to mesenchymal transitions. Studies from my lab and others indicate that the conversion of border cells in the Drosophila ovary from epithelial cells to migratory cells is a multistep process that depends upon changes in gene expression, cell adhesion and cytoskeletal organization. The first gene identified to play a role in border cell migration, slow border cells (slbo), encodes a Drosophila homolog of the C/EBP family of transcription factors. SLBO regulates the expression of a number of target genes including those that code for an FGF receptor homolog and E cadherin. In addition, the regulated activity of the GTPase Rac, but not Rho or Cdc42, is required during border cell migration. We have recently discovered a SLBO independent pathway, defined by three loci, taiman (tai), slow motion (slmo) and stuck in place (sip) that were identified in a screen for mutations that cause cell migration defects in mosaic clones. These loci exhibit dominant genetic interactions, indicating that they may act in a common biochemical pathway. The tai gene encodes a protein homologous to steroid hormone receptor coactivators, the first such protein identified in an invertebrate. In tai mutants the expression and subcellular localizations of a number of border cell proteins are unchanged, whereas Armadillo (ARM) protein levels remain unusually high, suggesting a possible explanation for the migration defect.
The specific aims of this proposal are to 1) test the hypothesis that failure to down regulate ARM expression contributes to the tai migration defect; 2) test the hypothesis that TAI is a hormone dependent transcriptional regulator; 3) define the roles of slmo and sip in border cell migration; and 4) identify and characterize proteins that act in the Rac pathway to affect border cell migration.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01GM046425-10
Application #
6196219
Study Section
Cell Development and Function Integrated Review Group (CDF)
Program Officer
Zatz, Marion M
Project Start
1991-08-01
Project End
2004-07-31
Budget Start
2000-08-01
Budget End
2001-07-31
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$331,572
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
045911138
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Campanale, Joseph P; Sun, Thomas Y; Montell, Denise J (2017) Development and dynamics of cell polarity at a glance. J Cell Sci 130:1201-1207
Manning, Lathiena; Sheth, Jinal; Bridges, Stacey et al. (2017) A hormonal cue promotes timely follicle cell migration by modulating transcription profiles. Mech Dev 148:56-68
Cai, Danfeng; Dai, Wei; Prasad, Mohit et al. (2016) Modeling and analysis of collective cell migration in an in vivo three-dimensional environment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:E2134-41
Xiang, Wenjuan; Zhang, Dabing; Montell, Denise J (2016) Tousled-like kinase regulates cytokine-mediated communication between cooperating cell types during collective border cell migration. Mol Biol Cell 27:12-9
Ding, Austin Xun; Sun, Gongping; Argaw, Yewubdar G et al. (2016) CasExpress reveals widespread and diverse patterns of cell survival of caspase-3 activation during development in vivo. Elife 5:
Dai, Wei; Montell, Denise J (2016) Live Imaging of Border Cell Migration in Drosophila. Methods Mol Biol 1407:153-68
Cai, Danfeng; Montell, Denise J (2014) Diverse and dynamic sources and sinks in gradient formation and directed migration. Curr Opin Cell Biol 30:91-8
Cai, Danfeng; Chen, Shann-Ching; Prasad, Mohit et al. (2014) Mechanical feedback through E-cadherin promotes direction sensing during collective cell migration. Cell 157:1146-59
Montell, Denise J (2013) Cell and molecular dynamics: visualizing, measuring, and manipulating the chemistry of life. Pflugers Arch 465:345-6
Chang, Yu-Chiuan; Jang, Anna C-C; Lin, Cheng-Han et al. (2013) Castor is required for Hedgehog-dependent cell-fate specification and follicle stem cell maintenance in Drosophila oogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110:E1734-42

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