Tatsumi, K., Tsuji, S., Miwa, H., Morisaku, T., Nuriya, M., Orihara, M., Kaneko, K., Okano, H., Yasui, M. (2009). Drosophila big brain does not act as a water channel, but mediates cell adhesion. FEBS Lett. 583(12): 2077--2082.
FlyBase ID
FBrf0208277
Publication Type
Research paper
Abstract
The neurogenic gene Drosophila big brain (bib) has a high sequence homology to aquaporin-4. However, its cellular functions in Drosophila neurogenesis have remained elusive. Here we investigated cell adhesion, and the ion and water permeability of Bib. The adhesive function was examined by a cell aggregation assay using L cells. Bib-transfected L cells formed aggregated clusters, while control-L cells remained as a single cell suspension. Ion permeation was not confirmed in L cells stably expressing Bib. When expressed in COS7 cells, Bib exhibited limited water permeability. This newly found cell adhesive function of Bib may be important for Drosophila neurogenesis.
