Wingless Signalling Alters the Levels, Subcellular Distribution and Dynamics of Armadillo and E-Cadherin in Third Instar Larval Wing Imaginal Discs
2008

How Wingless Signalling Affects Armadillo and E-Cadherin in Drosophila Development

publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Somorjai Ildiko M. L., Martinez-Arias Alfonso

Primary Institution: Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Hypothesis

How does Wingless signalling regulate the levels and distribution of Armadillo and E-Cadherin during Drosophila development?

Conclusion

The study provides evidence for a complex relationship between Armadillo levels, its distribution, and Wingless signalling during Drosophila development.

Supporting Evidence

  • Armadillo and E-Cadherin are regulated during development and respond to Wingless signalling.
  • Overexpression of Armadillo mutants affects its distribution and the levels of E-Cadherin.
  • Signalling alters the relationship between Armadillo and E-Cadherin at the adherens junction.

Takeaway

This study shows that a protein called Armadillo changes its location and amount in response to a signal called Wingless, which helps cells develop properly.

Methodology

The researchers used confocal microscopy to analyze the distribution of Armadillo and E-Cadherin in Drosophila wing imaginal discs and performed experiments to overexpress various Armadillo mutants.

Limitations

The study primarily focuses on Drosophila and may not directly translate to other organisms; the effects of overexpression may not reflect normal physiological conditions.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0002893

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication