A genetic screen for dominant modifiers of a cyclin E hypomorphic mutation identifies novel regulators of S-phase entry in Drosophila

Genetics. 2004 Sep;168(1):227-51. doi: 10.1534/genetics.104.026617.

Abstract

Cyclin E together with its kinase partner Cdk2 is a critical regulator of entry into S phase. To identify novel genes that regulate the G1- to S-phase transition within a whole animal we made use of a hypomorphic cyclin E mutation, DmcycEJP, which results in a rough eye phenotype. We screened the X and third chromosome deficiencies, tested candidate genes, and carried out a genetic screen of 55,000 EMS or X-ray-mutagenized flies for second or third chromosome mutations that dominantly modified the DmcycEJP rough eye phenotype. We have focused on the DmcycEJP suppressors, S(DmcycEJP), to identify novel negative regulators of S-phase entry. There are 18 suppressor gene groups with more than one allele and several genes that are represented by only a single allele. All S(DmcycEJP) tested suppress the DmcycEJP rough eye phenotype by increasing the number of S phases in the postmorphogenetic furrow S-phase band. By testing candidates we have identified several modifier genes from the mutagenic screen as well as from the deficiency screen. DmcycEJP suppressor genes fall into the classes of: (1) chromatin remodeling or transcription factors; (2) signaling pathways; and (3) cytoskeletal, (4) cell adhesion, and (5) cytoarchitectural tumor suppressors. The cytoarchitectural tumor suppressors include scribble, lethal-2-giant-larvae (lgl), and discs-large (dlg), loss of function of which leads to neoplastic tumors and disruption of apical-basal cell polarity. We further explored the genetic interactions of scribble with S(DmcycEJP) genes and show that hypomorphic scribble mutants exhibit genetic interactions with lgl, scab (alphaPS3-integrin--cell adhesion), phyllopod (signaling), dEB1 (microtubule-binding protein--cytoskeletal), and moira (chromatin remodeling). These interactions of the cytoarchitectural suppressor gene, scribble, with cell adhesion, signaling, cytoskeletal, and chromatin remodeling genes, suggest that these genes may act in a common pathway to negatively regulate cyclin E or S-phase entry.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / genetics
  • Chromosomes / genetics
  • Cyclin E / genetics*
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / physiology
  • Eye / cytology
  • Genes, Suppressor*
  • Genes, cdc / physiology*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Phenotype*
  • S Phase / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics

Substances

  • Cyclin E
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Scrib protein, Drosophila