Reference Report

Reference
Citation	Zhang, Z., Stevens, L.M., Stein, D. (2009). Sulfation of eggshell components by Pipe defines dorsal-ventral polarity in the Drosophila embryo. Curr. Biol. 19(14): 1200--1205. (Export to RIS)
FlyBase ID	FBrf0208501
Publication Type	Research paper
PubMed ID	19540119
PubMed Abstract	Drosophila embryonic dorsal-ventral (DV) polarity is controlled by a group of sequentially acting serine proteases located in the fluid-filled perivitelline space between the embryonic membrane and the eggshell, which generate the ligand for the Toll receptor on the ventral side of the embryo. Spatial control of the protease cascade relies on the Pipe sulfotransferase, a fly homolog of vertebrate glycosaminoglycan-modifying enzymes, which is expressed in ventral cells of the follicular epithelium surrounding the developing oocyte. Here we show that the vitelline membrane-like (VML) protein undergoes Pipe-dependent sulfation and, consistent with a role in conveying positional information from the egg chamber to the embryo, becomes incorporated into the eggshell at a position corresponding to the location of the follicle cells from which it was secreted. Although VML influences embryonic DV pattern in a sensitized genetic background, VML is not essential for DV axis formation, suggesting that there is redundancy in the composition of the Pipe enzymatic target. Correspondingly, we find that additional structural components of the vitelline membrane undergo Pipe-dependent sulfation. In identifying the elusive targets of Pipe, this work points to the vitelline membrane as the source of signals that generate the Drosophila DV axis.
DOI	10.1016/j.cub.2009.05.050
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Language of Publication	English
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Publication Type	Journal
Abbreviation	Curr. Biol.
Title	Current Biology
Publication Year	1991-
ISBN/ISSN	0960-9822
Data from Reference
Aberrations (1)
	Df(2L)Exel7024
Alleles (13)
	dec-1^VA28 gd^VM90 pip¹ pip² pip⁷ pip^ST2.Scer\UAS Scer\GAL4^55B Scer\GAL4^CY2 Scer\GAL4^E4 T:Disc\RFP^mRFP Vml^EY21650 Vml^{Scer\UAS.T:Disc\RFP-mRFP} w^+mC
Constructs (2)
	P{UAS-pip.ST2} P{UAS-Vml.mRFP}
Genes (10)
	dec-1 gd pip psd Scer\GAL4 Vm26Aa Vm26Ab Vm32E Vml w
Insertions (4)
	P{EPgy2}Vml^EY21650 P{GawB}CY2 P{GawB}E4 P{GawB}Eip63F-1^55B
Natural transposons (1)
	P-element