This report describes a Drosophila model of cancer that combines a constitutively activated mutation in the fly gene Notch (N) with constitutively active or over-expressing alleles of the fly genes Src42A and Src64B. Dmel\N encodes a transmembrane receptor that plays a key role in intercellular signaling; the fly gene is orthologous to 4 human genes, NOTCH1-NOTCH4. See the human disease model report 'cancer, multiple, Notch signaling pathway' (FBhh0000766).
Dmel\Src64B is the highest-scoring ortholog of human SRC; SRC encodes a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase that participates in multiple signaling pathways involved in gene transcription, immune response, cell adhesion, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, cell migration, and transformation. SRC is overexpressed or activated in multiple human malignancies. Dmel\Src42A is a low-scoring ortholog of human SRC; it is most closely related to another human Src family tyrosine kinase, FRK. Classical loss-of-function mutations, RNAi-targeting constructs, and alleles caused by insertional mutagenesis have been generated for both fly Src genes.
None of these human genes has been introduced into flies.
Assessed in both eye discs and wing discs, a constitutively active allele of Src42A causes hyperplastic growth in combination with an activated N allele. Overexpression of Src64B in combination with activated N results in similar phenotypes. Experiments support the hypothesis that the JNK pathway regulates the majority of the phenotypes and transcriptional changes downstream of Notch-Src interactions.
See also 'cancer, intestinal stem cell, SRC-related' (FBhh0000475).
[updated Nov. 2019 by FlyBase; FBrf0222196]
FRK encodes a non-receptor tyrosine-protein kinase that negatively regulates cell proliferation. [Gene Cards, FRK; 2019.11.12]
SRC encodes a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase which is activated following engagement of many different classes of cellular receptors including immune response receptors, integrins and other adhesion receptors, receptor protein tyrosine kinases, G protein-coupled receptors as well as cytokine receptors. Due to functional redundancy between members of the SRC kinase family, identification of the specific role of each SRC kinase is very difficult. [Gene Cards, SRC; 2019.11.12]
Moderate- to high-scoring ortholog of human NOTCH1, NOTCH2, NOTCH3, NOTCH4 (1 Drosophila to 4 human). Dmel\N shares 43-44% identity and 56-57% similarity with NOTCH1 and NOTCH2.
High-scoring ortholog of human gene FRK; lower-scoring ortholog of human SRC (many to many; multiple paralogs and orthologs in both species). Dmel\Src42A shares 54% identity and 68% similarity with human FRK.
Highest-scoring ortholog of human gene SRC (many to many; multiple paralogs and orthologs in both species). Dmel\Src64B shares 50% identity and 67% similarity with human SRC.