acal is a long non-coding RNA in JNK signaling in epithelial shape changes during drosophila dorsal closure

PLoS Genet. 2015 Feb 24;11(2):e1004927. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004927. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Dorsal closure is an epithelial remodeling process taking place during Drosophila embryogenesis. JNK signaling coordinates dorsal closure. We identify and characterize acal as a novel negative dorsal closure regulator. acal represents a new level of JNK regulation. The acal locus codes for a conserved, long, non-coding, nuclear RNA. Long non-coding RNAs are an abundant and diverse class of gene regulators. Mutations in acal are lethal. acal mRNA expression is dynamic and is processed into a collection of 50 to 120 bp fragments. We show that acal lies downstream of raw, a pioneer protein, helping explain part of raw functions, and interacts genetically with Polycomb. acal functions in trans regulating mRNA expression of two genes involved in JNK signaling and dorsal closure: Connector of kinase to AP1 (Cka) and anterior open (aop). Cka is a conserved scaffold protein that brings together JNK and Jun, and aop is a transcription factor. Misregulation of Cka and aop can account for dorsal closure phenotypes in acal mutants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics*
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Body Patterning / genetics*
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics*
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / growth & development*
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Eye Proteins / genetics*
  • Eye Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / genetics
  • Mutation
  • Phenotype
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • AOP protein, Drosophila
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Cka protein, Drosophila
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Eye Proteins
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • Repressor Proteins
  • acal long non-coding RNA, Drosophila

Grants and funding

LDRB is a doctoral student from Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and received fellowship #229328 from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (http://www.conacyt.gob.mx). Laboratory funding was provided by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología grant #177962, Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (http://dgapa.unam.mx/html/papiit/papit.html), grant #IN203110, and laboratory budget to JRRE. MD is a grant recipient form the Spanish National Grants (BFU2009-09074, SAF2012-35181and MEC-CONSOLIDER CSD2007-00023), Generalitat Valenciana Grant (PROMETEO II/2013/001) and Fundación Botín. IGP is a grant recipient from the IFP, Spain. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.