Genetic Regulation of Salivary Gland Development in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>

Abstract

Studies of salivary gland development in the Drosophila embryo have revealed the morphogenic events by which the salivary gland tubes are formed, and identified the genes and genetic networks that regulate these events. Invagination of the salivary gland primordium occurs by an apical constriction mechanism regulated by the tyrosine kinase, Tec29, the transcription factors, Fork head and Huckebein, and Rho GTPase-mediated actomyosin contraction. After invagination is complete, transcriptional control of the apical membrane protein, Crumbs, by the transcription factors, Hairy, Hkb and Ribbon, and downregulation of Moesin-dependent apical stiffness promotes elongation of the salivary gland lumen. Integrin-mediated adhesion between the gland and surrounding mesoderm, coupled with Rho GTPase-mediated contraction of the proximal gland cells and downregulation of E-cadherin-based cell-cell adhesion by the Rac GTPases, allow turning and posterior migration of the salivary gland. Further posterior migration of the salivary gland is dependent on axon guidance cues, such as Robo and Slit, and close association with surrounding tissues. Many of the genes identified as regulators of salivary gland invagination and migration also control invagination of other epithelial tissues and migration of diverse cell types. Thus, studies of Drosophila salivary gland morphogenesis continue to illuminate the conserved mechanisms by which cells give rise to three-dimensional tissues and organs during embryogenesis.

Integrins are required for cardioblast polarisation in Drosophila

“…Genetically, this function is most sensitive to genes required for adhesion, such as for Talin, and ECM ligands. Slit signaling during axon guidance and salivary gland migration is also sensitive to Integrin function [14,36]. Integrins may have a conserved function in establishing membrane domains rich in Robo to enable localised morphogen signaling.…”

“…Drosophila affords multiple models of lumen formation, such as the salivary gland, trachea and dorsal vessel (heart) that enable a genetic dissection of these signal pathways [12-14]. Here we focus on the role of Integrins in the formation of the lumen of the Drosophila heart.…”

Quantitative Measurement of Histone Tail Acetylation Reveals Stage-Specific Regulation and Response to Environmental Changes during Drosophila Development

“…To demonstrate this, we have characterized the acetylation pattern of histones extracted from imaginal discs and salivary glands (Figure 6 A&B). These organs in particular were chosen due to their prevalence and utility in Drosophila studies 53-55 . In these experiments, the data is quantitated from 10 imaginal discs or 10 salivary glands.…”

Drosophila KASH-domain protein Klarsicht regulates microtubule stability and integrin receptor localization during collective cell migration

“…In particular, the Drosophila embryonic salivary gland is an excellent system for studying how cells migrate collectively as an intact tubular structure. The salivary glands consist of a pair of elongated secretory tubes that are connected to the larval mouth by the duct tubes (Chung et al, 2014; Maruyama and Andrew, 2012; Pirraglia and Myat, 2010). After salivary gland cells invaginate from the ventral surface of the embryo, the tube is initially oriented dorsally.…”