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ovo/svb integrates Wingless and DER pathways to control epidermis differentiation

Nature volume 400, pages 271–275 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

In Drosophila, as in mammals, epidermal differentiation is controlled by signalling cascades1 that include Wnt proteins2,3 and the ovo/shavenbaby (svb) family of zinc-finger transcription factors4,5,6. Ovo/svb is a complex gene with two genetic functions corresponding to separate control regions: ovo is required for female germline development and svb for epidermal morphogenesis7,8. In the Drosophila embryo, the ventral epidermis consists of the segmental alternance of two major cell types that produce either naked cuticle or cytoplasmic extrusions known as denticles. Wingless signalling specifies smooth cells that produce naked cuticle9, whereas the activation of the Drosophila epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (DER) leads to the production of denticles10. Here we show that expression of the ovo/svb gene controls the choice between these cell fates. We find that svb is a key selector gene that, cell autonomously, directs cytoskeletal modifications producing the denticle. The DER pathway promotes denticle formation by activating svb expression. Conversely, Wingless promotes the smooth cell fate through the transcriptional repression of svb bythe bipartite nuclear factor Armadillo/dTcf. Our data indicatethat transcriptional regulation of svb integrates inputs fromthe Wingless and DER pathways and controls epidermal differentiation.

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Figure 1: svb activity is necessary and sufficient to promote denticle formation.
Figure 2: The Wg pathway represses svb transcription.
Figure 3: The DER signalling pathway directs denticle formation by activating svb expression.
Figure 4: svb transcription integrates the antagonist signals from the Wg and DER pathways.

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Acknowledgements

We thank M. Freeman, D. Montell, C. Nusslein-Volhard, M. Peifer, B. Shilo, J. P. Vincent, E. Wieschaus, and the Bloomington Stock centre for fly stocks; S. Cohen for providing the Wingless monoclonal antibody; C. Ardourel and M. J. Guinaudy for technical assistance; M. Mével-Ninio, B. Oliver, J. P. Vincent and the members of the lab for stimulating discussions; and B. Oliver, J. P. Vincent and J. Smith for comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by grants from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.

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  1. Centre de Biologie du Développement, UMR5547, Bat IVR3, 118 route de Narbonne, Cedex, 31062, Toulouse, France

    FranÇois Payre, Alain Vincent & Sebastien Carreno

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  1. FranÇois Payre
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  2. Alain Vincent
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Correspondence to FranÇois Payre.

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Payre, F., Vincent, A. & Carreno, S. ovo/svb integrates Wingless and DER pathways to control epidermis differentiation. Nature 400, 271–275 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/22330

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