Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are involved in a variety of biological processes such as growth factor signaling. Many human diseases have been found to be associated with defects in the HSPG biosynthesis. The heparan sulfate (HS) chains have markedly heterogeneous structures that are mainly produced by the regulated introduction of N-, 2-O-, 6-O-, and 3-O-sulfate groups. Evidence suggests that these """"""""fine structures"""""""" of HS control discrete signaling events at the cell surface. The molecular basis for this control, however, is largely unknown. Our goal is to understand the roles of specific HS fine structures in morphogenesis using a genetically tractable model organism, Drosophila melanogaster. We recently identified Drosophila HS 6-O-sutfotransferase (dHS6ST) as a positive regulator of FGF signaling during tracheal system development. This is consistent with recent biochemical data, which suggested that 6-O-sulfation is responsible for the activation of FGF signaling in vertebrate systems. However, the molecular mechanism by which growth factor signaling is controlled by this specific sulfation of HS remains to be elucidated. We have also investigated sulfation at the 3-O-position of HS, which is known to be critical for blood coagulation and viral infection in mammals. However, the role of 3-O-sulfation in development is poorly understood. In our preliminary studies, Drosophila HS 3-O-sulfotransferase-b (dHS3ST-b) is involved in Notch signaling and the assembly of many tissues, implicating 3-O-sulfation in development. In the proposed research, we will study the in vivo functions of three genes for Drosophila HSSTs, dHS6ST, dHS3ST-a, and -b, during development.
Specific aims are:
Aim 1. Explore the molecular functions of dHS6ST in growth factor signaling during Drosophila development.
Aim 2. Determine the molecular functions of the dHS3ST-b gene in the Notch signaling pathway.
Aim 3. Localize the ligand-specific HS in Drosophila tissues. Two recently developed techniques, transgenic RNA interference (Aim 2) and an in situ ligand binding assay (Aim 3), will be used in this study.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD042769-04
Application #
7032971
Study Section
Cell Development and Function Integrated Review Group (CDF)
Program Officer
Javois, Lorette Claire
Project Start
2003-04-29
Project End
2008-03-31
Budget Start
2006-04-01
Budget End
2007-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$261,018
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
555917996
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
Takemura, Masahiko; Nakato, Hiroshi (2015) Genetic approaches in the study of heparan sulfate functions in Drosophila. Methods Mol Biol 1229:497-505
Dejima, Katsufumi; Takemura, Masahiko; Nakato, Eriko et al. (2013) Analysis of Drosophila glucuronyl C5-epimerase: implications for developmental roles of heparan sulfate sulfation compensation and 2-O-sulfated glucuronic acid. J Biol Chem 288:34384-93
Dejima, Katsufumi; Kleinschmit, Adam; Takemura, Masahiko et al. (2013) The role of Drosophila heparan sulfate 6-O-endosulfatase in sulfation compensation. J Biol Chem 288:6574-82
Kleinschmit, Adam; Takemura, Masahiko; Dejima, Katsufumi et al. (2013) Drosophila heparan sulfate 6-O-endosulfatase Sulf1 facilitates wingless (Wg) protein degradation. J Biol Chem 288:5081-9
Hayashi, Yoshiki; Sexton, Travis R; Dejima, Katsufumi et al. (2012) Glypicans regulate JAK/STAT signaling and distribution of the Unpaired morphogen. Development 139:4162-71
Dejima, Katsufumi; Kanai, Makoto I; Akiyama, Takuya et al. (2011) Novel contact-dependent bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling mediated by heparan sulfate proteoglycans. J Biol Chem 286:17103-11
Wojcinski, Alexandre; Nakato, Hiroshi; Soula, Cathy et al. (2011) DSulfatase-1 fine-tunes Hedgehog patterning activity through a novel regulatory feedback loop. Dev Biol 358:168-80
Kamimura, Keisuke; Maeda, Nobuaki; Nakato, Hiroshi (2011) In vivo manipulation of heparan sulfate structure and its effect on Drosophila development. Glycobiology 21:607-18
Kleinschmit, Adam; Koyama, Takashi; Dejima, Katsufumi et al. (2010) Drosophila heparan sulfate 6-O endosulfatase regulates Wingless morphogen gradient formation. Dev Biol 345:204-14
Hayashi, Yoshiki; Kobayashi, Satoru; Nakato, Hiroshi (2009) Drosophila glypicans regulate the germline stem cell niche. J Cell Biol 187:473-80

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