Ubiquitin is a highly conserved polypeptide found in all eukaryotes. The major function of ubiquitin is to target proteins for complete or partial degradation by a multisubunit protein complex called the proteasome. Here, the Drosophila fat facets gene, which is required for the appropriate determination of particular cells in the fly eye, was shown to encode a ubiquitin-specific protease (Ubp), an enzyme that cleaves ubiquitin from ubiquitin-protein conjugates. The Fat facets protein (FAF) acts as a regulatory Ubp that prevents degradation of its substrate by the proteasome. Flies bearing fat facets gene mutations were used to show that a Ubp is cell type--and substrate-specific and a regulator of cell fate decisions in a multicellular organism.

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We have studied the function of protein kinase A (PKA) during embryonic development using a PKA-deficient mouse that retains only one functional catalytic subunit allele, either C␣ or C␤, of PKA. The reduced PKA activity results in neural tube defects that are specifically localized posterior to the forelimb buds and lead to spina bifida. The affected neural tube has closed appropriately but exhibits an enlarged lumen and abnormal neuroepithelium. Decreased PKA activity causes dorsal expansion of Sonic hedgehog signal response in the thoracic to sacral regions correlating with the regions of morphological abnormalities. Other regions of the neural tube appear normal. The regional sensitivity to changes in PKA activity indicates that downstream signaling pathways differ along the anterior-posterior axis and suggests a functional role for PKA activation in neural tube development.

Background: IGBP1/␣4 interacts with microtubule-associated MID1 to regulate PP2A within the mTOR pathway. Results: MID1 catalyzes the polyubiquitination and degradation of ␣4, demonstrating for the first time a mechanism for ␣4 regulation. Conclusion:The tandem RING-Bbox domains are required for ␣4 polyubiquitination and degradation. Significance: Ectopic overexpression of IGBP1/␣4 transforms cells. Ubiquitination of ␣4 impacts the stability and activity level of PP2A.

The intracellular second messenger cAMP affects cell physiology by directly interacting with effector molecules that include cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels, cAMP-regulated G protein exchange factors, and cAMP-dependent protein kinases (PKA). Two catalytic subunits, Calpha and Cbeta, are expressed in the mouse and mediate the effects of PKA. We generated a null mutation in the major catalytic subunit of PKA, Calpha, and observed early postnatal lethality in the majority of Calpha knockout mice. Surprisingly, a small percentage of Calpha knockout mice, although runted, survived to adulthood. This growth retardation was not due to decreased GH production but did correlate with a reduction in IGF-I mRNA in the liver and diminished production of the major urinary proteins in kidney. The survival of Calpha knockout mice after birth is dependent on the genetic background as well as environmental factors, but sufficient adult animals were obtained to characterize the mutants. In these animals, compensatory increases in Cbeta levels occurred in brain whereas many tissues, including skeletal muscle, heart, and sperm, contained less than 10% of the normal PKA activity. Analysis of sperm in Calpha knockout males revealed that spermatogenesis progressed normally but that mature sperm had defective forward motility.