2024/11/06 by Bipin Kumar Tripathi, Kenneth D. Irvine · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Neuroscience · #Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling #Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ #Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer
paper · pdf · doi:10.1242/dev.202919
openalex publication_date 2024/11/06 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
The protocadherins Fat and Dachsous regulate organ growth, shape, patterning, and planar cell polarity. Although Dachsous and Fat have been described as ligand and receptor, respectively, in a signal transduction pathway, there is also evidence for bidirectional signaling. Here, we assess signaling downstream of Dachsous through analysis of its intracellular domain. Genomic deletions of conserved sequences within dachsous identified regions of the intracellular domain that contribute to Dachsous activity. Deletion of the A motif increased Dachsous protein levels and decreased wing size. Deletion of the D motif decreased Dachsous levels at cell membranes, increased wing size, and disrupted wing, leg and hindgut patterning and planar cell polarity. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments established that the D motif is necessary and sufficient for association of Dachsous with key partners, including Lowfat, Dachs, Spiny-legs, Fat and MyoID. Subdivision of the D motif identified distinct regions that preferentially contribute to different Dachsous activities. Our results identify motifs that are essential for Dachsous function and are consistent with the hypothesis that the key function of Dachsous is regulation of Fat.