Journal of Developmental Biology

2024

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2 pages, 167 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Drosophila—A Model System for Developmental Biology

by Nicholas S. Tolwinski

J. Dev. Biol. 2024, 12(2), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb12020015 - 21 May 2024

Viewed by 1540

Abstract

In this Special Issue, titled “Drosophila—A Model System for Developmental Biology”, we present a series of articles and reviews looking at the diverse ways that researchers are using the humble fruit fly, also known as the vinegar fly, to tackle the [...] Read more.

In this Special Issue, titled “Drosophila—A Model System for Developmental Biology”, we present a series of articles and reviews looking at the diverse ways that researchers are using the humble fruit fly, also known as the vinegar fly, to tackle the many aspects of development and homeostasis [...] Full article

2022

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12 pages, 303 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Drosophila melanogaster as a Tool for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research

by Krupa N. Hegde and Ajay Srivastava

J. Dev. Biol. 2022, 10(3), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb10030036 - 30 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3797

Abstract

Reliable animal model systems are an integral part of biological research. Ever since Thomas Hunt Morgan won a Nobel Prize for genetic work done using the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) as a model organism, it has played a larger and more [...] Read more.

Reliable animal model systems are an integral part of biological research. Ever since Thomas Hunt Morgan won a Nobel Prize for genetic work done using the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) as a model organism, it has played a larger and more important role in genetic research. Drosophila models have long been used to study neurodegenerative diseases and have aided in identifying key disease progression biological pathways. Due to the availability of a vast array of genetic manipulation tools, its relatively short lifespan, and its ability to produce many progenies, D. melanogaster has provided the ability to conduct large-scale genetic screens to elucidate possible genetic and molecular interactions in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). With regards to ALS, many of the gene mutations that have been discovered to be linked to the disease have been modeled in Drosophila to provide a look into a detailed model of pathogenesis. The aim of this review is to summarize key and newer developments in ALS research that have utilized Drosophila and to provide insight into the profound use of Drosophila as a tool for modeling this disease. Full article

10 pages, 1695 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Mutations in the 5′ Region of the Notch Gene Affect Drosophila melanogaster Oogenesis

by Elena I. Volkova, Natalya V. Dorogova, Oleg V. Andreyenkov, Saveliy A. Tikhomirov and Sergey A. Demakov

J. Dev. Biol. 2022, 10(3), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb10030032 - 9 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2639

Abstract

The Notch pathway is an important and evolutionarily conserved signaling system involved in the development of multicellular organisms. Notch signaling plays an important role in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of many cell types. In this study, we report new aspects of [...] Read more.

The Notch pathway is an important and evolutionarily conserved signaling system involved in the development of multicellular organisms. Notch signaling plays an important role in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of many cell types. In this study, we report new aspects of Notch gene participation in oogenesis using our previously generated mutations. The mutations consist of an insertion of an auxiliary element of a transgene construct into the first intron of the gene and a series of directed deletions within the 5′ regulatory region of Notch. We showed that some of these mutations affect Drosophila oogenesis. This insertion, either alone or in combination with the deletion of an insulator sequence, led to lower expression of Notch in the ovaries. As a result, the formation of egg chambers was disturbed in middle oogenesis. These abnormalities have not been described previously and imply one more function of Notch in oogenesis. It can be assumed that Notch is associated with not only follicular epithelium morphogenesis but also cellular mechanisms of oocyte growth. Full article

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2018

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22 pages, 6275 KiB

Open AccessReview

I Spy in the Developing Fly a Multitude of Ways to Die

by Alla Yalonetskaya, Albert A. Mondragon, Johnny Elguero and Kimberly McCall

J. Dev. Biol. 2018, 6(4), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb6040026 - 22 Oct 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 11192

Abstract

Cell proliferation and cell death are two opposing, yet complementary fundamental processes in development. Cell proliferation provides new cells, while developmental programmed cell death adjusts cell numbers and refines structures as an organism grows. Apoptosis is the best-characterized form of programmed cell death; [...] Read more.

Cell proliferation and cell death are two opposing, yet complementary fundamental processes in development. Cell proliferation provides new cells, while developmental programmed cell death adjusts cell numbers and refines structures as an organism grows. Apoptosis is the best-characterized form of programmed cell death; however, there are many other non-apoptotic forms of cell death that occur throughout development. Drosophila is an excellent model for studying these varied forms of cell death given the array of cellular, molecular, and genetic techniques available. In this review, we discuss select examples of apoptotic and non-apoptotic cell death that occur in different tissues and at different stages of Drosophila development. For example, apoptosis occurs throughout the nervous system to achieve an appropriate number of neurons. Elsewhere in the fly, non-apoptotic modes of developmental cell death are employed, such as in the elimination of larval salivary glands and midgut during metamorphosis. These and other examples discussed here demonstrate the versatility of Drosophila as a model organism for elucidating the diverse modes of programmed cell death. Full article

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22 pages, 3741 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Drosophila as a Model for Developmental Biology: Stem Cell-Fate Decisions in the Developing Nervous System

by Katherine Harding and Kristin White

J. Dev. Biol. 2018, 6(4), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb6040025 - 19 Oct 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 11199

Abstract

Stem cells face a diversity of choices throughout their lives. At specific times, they may decide to initiate cell division, terminal differentiation, or apoptosis, or they may enter a quiescent non-proliferative state. Neural stem cells in the Drosophila central nervous system do all [...] Read more.

Stem cells face a diversity of choices throughout their lives. At specific times, they may decide to initiate cell division, terminal differentiation, or apoptosis, or they may enter a quiescent non-proliferative state. Neural stem cells in the Drosophila central nervous system do all of these, at stereotypical times and anatomical positions during development. Distinct populations of neural stem cells offer a unique system to investigate the regulation of a particular stem cell behavior, while comparisons between populations can lead us to a broader understanding of stem cell identity. Drosophila is a well-described and genetically tractable model for studying fundamental stem cell behavior and the mechanisms that underlie cell-fate decisions. This review will focus on recent advances in our understanding of the factors that contribute to distinct stem cell-fate decisions within the context of the Drosophila nervous system. Full article

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15 pages, 1337 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

The Role of Apoptotic Signaling in Axon Guidance

by Riley Kellermeyer, Leah M. Heydman, Grant S. Mastick and Thomas Kidd

J. Dev. Biol. 2018, 6(4), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb6040024 - 18 Oct 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 7812

Abstract

Navigating growth cones are exposed to multiple signals simultaneously and have to integrate competing cues into a coherent navigational response. Integration of guidance cues is traditionally thought to occur at the level of cytoskeletal dynamics. Drosophila studies indicate that cells exhibit a low [...] Read more.

Navigating growth cones are exposed to multiple signals simultaneously and have to integrate competing cues into a coherent navigational response. Integration of guidance cues is traditionally thought to occur at the level of cytoskeletal dynamics. Drosophila studies indicate that cells exhibit a low level of continuous caspase protease activation, and that axon guidance cues can activate or suppress caspase activity. We base a model for axon guidance on these observations. By analogy with other systems in which caspase signaling has non-apoptotic functions, we propose that caspase signaling can either reinforce repulsion or negate attraction in response to external guidance cues by cleaving cytoskeletal proteins. Over the course of an entire trajectory, incorrectly navigating axons may pass the threshold for apoptosis and be eliminated, whereas axons making correct decisions will survive. These observations would also explain why neurotrophic factors can act as axon guidance cues and why axon guidance systems such as Slit/Robo signaling may act as tumor suppressors in cancer. Full article

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Graphical abstract

23 pages, 1625 KiB

Open AccessReview

Drosophila as a Model for Assessing the Function of RNA-Binding Proteins during Neurogenesis and Neurological Disease

by Eugenia C. Olesnicky and Ethan G. Wright

J. Dev. Biol. 2018, 6(3), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb6030021 - 18 Aug 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 7647

Abstract

An outstanding question in developmental neurobiology is how RNA processing events contribute to the regulation of neurogenesis. RNA processing events are increasingly recognized as playing fundamental roles in regulating multiple developmental events during neurogenesis, from the asymmetric divisions of neural stem cells, to [...] Read more.

An outstanding question in developmental neurobiology is how RNA processing events contribute to the regulation of neurogenesis. RNA processing events are increasingly recognized as playing fundamental roles in regulating multiple developmental events during neurogenesis, from the asymmetric divisions of neural stem cells, to the generation of complex and diverse neurite morphologies. Indeed, both asymmetric cell division and neurite morphogenesis are often achieved by mechanisms that generate asymmetric protein distributions, including post-transcriptional gene regulatory mechanisms such as the transport of translationally silent messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and local translation of mRNAs within neurites. Additionally, defects in RNA splicing have emerged as a common theme in many neurodegenerative disorders, highlighting the importance of RNA processing in maintaining neuronal circuitry. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play an integral role in splicing and post-transcriptional gene regulation, and mutations in RBPs have been linked with multiple neurological disorders including autism, dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Fragile X syndrome (FXS), and X-linked intellectual disability disorder. Despite their widespread nature and roles in neurological disease, the molecular mechanisms and networks of regulated target RNAs have been defined for only a small number of specific RBPs. This review aims to highlight recent studies in Drosophila that have advanced our knowledge of how RBP dysfunction contributes to neurological disease. Full article

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17 pages, 1506 KiB

Open AccessReview

Specification and Patterning of Drosophila Appendages

by Mireya Ruiz-Losada, David Blom-Dahl, Sergio Córdoba and Carlos Estella

J. Dev. Biol. 2018, 6(3), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb6030017 - 14 Jul 2018

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 13701

Abstract

Appendages are external projections of the body that serve the animal for locomotion, feeding, or environment exploration. The appendages of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster are derived from the imaginal discs, epithelial sac-like structures specified in the embryo that grow and pattern during [...] Read more.

Appendages are external projections of the body that serve the animal for locomotion, feeding, or environment exploration. The appendages of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster are derived from the imaginal discs, epithelial sac-like structures specified in the embryo that grow and pattern during larva development. In the last decades, genetic and developmental studies in the fruit fly have provided extensive knowledge regarding the mechanisms that direct the formation of the appendages. Importantly, many of the signaling pathways and patterning genes identified and characterized in Drosophila have similar functions during vertebrate appendage development. In this review, we will summarize the genetic and molecular mechanisms that lead to the specification of appendage primordia in the embryo and their posterior patterning during imaginal disc development. The identification of the regulatory logic underlying appendage specification in Drosophila suggests that the evolutionary origin of the insect wing is, in part, related to the development of ventral appendages. Full article

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23 pages, 63077 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Requirement of the Dynein-Adaptor Spindly for Mitotic and Post-Mitotic Functions in Drosophila

by Giuliana D. Clemente, Matthew R. Hannaford, Hamze Beati, Katja Kapp, Jens Januschke, Eric R. Griffis and Hans-Arno J. Müller

J. Dev. Biol. 2018, 6(2), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb6020009 - 30 Mar 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 7578

Abstract

Spindly was originally identified as a specific regulator of Dynein activity at the kinetochore. In early prometaphase, Spindly recruits the Dynein/Dynactin complex, promoting the establishment of stable kinetochore-microtubule interactions and progression into anaphase. While details of Spindly function in mitosis have been worked [...] Read more.

Spindly was originally identified as a specific regulator of Dynein activity at the kinetochore. In early prometaphase, Spindly recruits the Dynein/Dynactin complex, promoting the establishment of stable kinetochore-microtubule interactions and progression into anaphase. While details of Spindly function in mitosis have been worked out in cultured human cells and in the C. elegans zygote, the function of Spindly within the context of an organism has not yet been addressed. Here, we present loss- and gain-of-function studies of Spindly using transgenic RNAi in Drosophila. Knock-down of Spindly in the female germ line results in mitotic arrest during embryonic cleavage divisions. We investigated the requirements of Spindly protein domains for its localisation and function, and found that the carboxy-terminal region controls Spindly localisation in a cell-type specific manner. Overexpression of Spindly in the female germ line is embryonic lethal and results in altered egg morphology. To determine whether Spindly plays a role in post-mitotic cells, we altered Spindly protein levels in migrating cells and found that ovarian border cell migration is sensitive to the levels of Spindly protein. Our study uncovers novel functions of Spindly and a differential, functional requirement for its carboxy-terminal region in Drosophila. Full article

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20 pages, 1537 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Wingless/Wnt Signaling in Intestinal Development, Homeostasis, Regeneration and Tumorigenesis: A Drosophila Perspective

by Ai Tian, Hassina Benchabane and Yashi Ahmed

J. Dev. Biol. 2018, 6(2), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb6020008 - 28 Mar 2018

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 7854

Abstract

In mammals, the Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction pathway regulates intestinal stem cell maintenance and proliferation, whereas Wnt pathway hyperactivation, resulting primarily from the inactivation of the tumor suppressor Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), triggers the development of the vast majority of colorectal cancers. The Drosophila [...] Read more.

In mammals, the Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction pathway regulates intestinal stem cell maintenance and proliferation, whereas Wnt pathway hyperactivation, resulting primarily from the inactivation of the tumor suppressor Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), triggers the development of the vast majority of colorectal cancers. The Drosophila adult gut has recently emerged as a powerful model to elucidate the mechanisms by which Wingless/Wnt signaling regulates intestinal development, homeostasis, regeneration, and tumorigenesis. Herein, we review recent insights on the roles of Wnt signaling in Drosophila intestinal physiology and pathology. Full article

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21 pages, 3036 KiB

Open AccessReview

Flying the RNA Nest: Drosophila Reveals Novel Insights into the Transcriptome Dynamics of Early Development

by Fabio Alexis Lefebvre and Éric Lécuyer

J. Dev. Biol. 2018, 6(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb6010005 - 7 Mar 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 7589

Abstract

Early development is punctuated by a series of pervasive and fast paced transitions. These events reshape a differentiated oocyte into a totipotent embryo and allow it to gradually mount a genetic program of its own, thereby framing a new organism. Specifically, developmental transitions [...] Read more.

Early development is punctuated by a series of pervasive and fast paced transitions. These events reshape a differentiated oocyte into a totipotent embryo and allow it to gradually mount a genetic program of its own, thereby framing a new organism. Specifically, developmental transitions that ensure the maternal to embryonic control of developmental events entail a deep remodeling of transcriptional and transcriptomic landscapes. Drosophila provides an elegant and genetically tractable system to investigate these conserved changes at a dazzling developmental pace. Here, we review recent studies applying emerging technologies such as ribosome profiling, in situ Hi-C chromatin probing and live embryo RNA imaging to investigate the transcriptional dynamics at play during Drosophila embryogenesis. In light of this new literature, we revisit the main models of zygotic genome activation (ZGA). We also review the contributions played by zygotic transcription in shaping embryogenesis and explore emerging concepts of processes such as transcriptional bursting and transcriptional memory. Full article

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13 pages, 1441 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Biology of SUMO-Targeted Ubiquitin Ligases in Drosophila Development, Immunity, and Cancer

by Mona Abed, Eliya Bitman-Lotan and Amir Orian

J. Dev. Biol. 2018, 6(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb6010002 - 1 Jan 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 7016

Abstract

The ubiquitin and SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) pathways modify proteins that in turn regulate diverse cellular processes, embryonic development, and adult tissue physiology. These pathways were originally discovered biochemically in vitro, leading to a long-standing challenge of elucidating both the molecular cross-talk between [...] Read more.

The ubiquitin and SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) pathways modify proteins that in turn regulate diverse cellular processes, embryonic development, and adult tissue physiology. These pathways were originally discovered biochemically in vitro, leading to a long-standing challenge of elucidating both the molecular cross-talk between these pathways and their biological importance. Recent discoveries in Drosophila established that ubiquitin and SUMO pathways are interconnected via evolutionally conserved SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase (STUbL) proteins. STUbL are RING ubiquitin ligases that recognize SUMOylated substrates and catalyze their ubiquitination, and include Degringolade (Dgrn) in Drosophila and RNF4 and RNF111 in humans. STUbL are essential for early development of both the fly and mouse embryos. In the fly embryo, Dgrn regulates early cell cycle progression, sex determination, zygotic gene transcription, segmentation, and neurogenesis, among other processes. In the fly adult, Dgrn is required for systemic immune response to pathogens and intestinal stem cell regeneration upon infection. These functions of Dgrn are highly conserved in humans, where RNF4-dependent ubiquitination potentiates key oncoproteins, thereby accelerating tumorigenesis. Here, we review the lessons learned to date in Drosophila and highlight their relevance to cancer biology. Full article

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2017

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566 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperCommentary

Modeling Alzheimer’s and Other Age Related Human Diseases in Embryonic Systems

by Chu Hsien Lim and Ajay S. Mathuru

J. Dev. Biol. 2018, 6(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb6010001 - 22 Dec 2017

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 6181

Abstract

Modeling human disease in animals is an important strategy to discover potential methods of intervention. We suggest that there is much to be gained by employing a multi-model approach that takes advantage of different animal systems used in the laboratory simultaneously. We use [...] Read more.

Modeling human disease in animals is an important strategy to discover potential methods of intervention. We suggest that there is much to be gained by employing a multi-model approach that takes advantage of different animal systems used in the laboratory simultaneously. We use the example of modeling Alzheimer’s disease in Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Danio rerio to illustrate how such an approach can be employed to investigate the pathophysiology of the disease. Full article

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1434 KiB

Open AccessReview

Engineering the Drosophila Genome for Developmental Biology

by Dagmara Korona, Stefan A. Koestler and Steven Russell

J. Dev. Biol. 2017, 5(4), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb5040016 - 11 Dec 2017

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 8436

Abstract

The recent development of transposon and CRISPR-Cas9-based tools for manipulating the fly genome in vivo promises tremendous progress in our ability to study developmental processes. Tools for introducing tags into genes at their endogenous genomic loci facilitate imaging or biochemistry approaches at the [...] Read more.

The recent development of transposon and CRISPR-Cas9-based tools for manipulating the fly genome in vivo promises tremendous progress in our ability to study developmental processes. Tools for introducing tags into genes at their endogenous genomic loci facilitate imaging or biochemistry approaches at the cellular or subcellular levels. Similarly, the ability to make specific alterations to the genome sequence allows much more precise genetic control to address questions of gene function. Full article

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266 KiB

Open AccessReview

Drosophila as a Model to Study the Link between Metabolism and Cancer

by Héctor Herranz and Stephen M. Cohen

J. Dev. Biol. 2017, 5(4), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb5040015 - 1 Dec 2017

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6970

Abstract

Cellular metabolism has recently been recognized as a hallmark of cancer. Investigating the origin and effects of the reprogrammed metabolism of tumor cells, and identifying its genetic mediators, will improve our understanding of how these changes contribute to disease progression and may suggest [...] Read more.

Cellular metabolism has recently been recognized as a hallmark of cancer. Investigating the origin and effects of the reprogrammed metabolism of tumor cells, and identifying its genetic mediators, will improve our understanding of how these changes contribute to disease progression and may suggest new approaches to therapy. Drosophila melanogaster is emerging as a valuable model to study multiple aspects of tumor formation and malignant transformation. In this review, we discuss the use of Drosophila as model to study how changes in cellular metabolism, as well as metabolic disease, contribute to cancer. Full article

160 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Introduction: Drosophila—A Model System for Developmental Biology

by Nicholas S. Tolwinski

J. Dev. Biol. 2017, 5(3), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb5030009 - 20 Sep 2017

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 18026

Abstract

Drosophila melanogaster, known colloquially as the fruit fly, remains one of the most commonly used model organisms for biomedical science.[...] Full article

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