Protein kinase A and hedgehog signaling in Drosophila limb development

Cell. 1995 Feb 24;80(4):563-72. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(95)90510-3.

Abstract

The Drosophila hedgehog (hh) gene encodes a secreted protein involved in organizing growth and patterning in many developmental processes. Hh appears to act by inducing the localized expression of at least two other signaling molecules, decapentaplegic (dpp) and wingless (wg), which then govern cell proliferation and patterning in surrounding tissue. Here, we demonstrate that cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) is essential during limb development to prevent inappropriate dpp and wg expression. We also show that a constitutively active form of PKA can prevent inappropriate dpp and wg expression, but does not interfere with their normal induction by hh. We propose that the basal activity of PKA imposes a block on the transcription of dpp and wg and that hh exerts its organizing influence by alleviating this block.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Communication
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Down-Regulation
  • Drosophila / embryology*
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Embryonic Induction
  • Extremities / embryology
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • Hot Temperature
  • Insect Hormones / biosynthesis
  • Insect Hormones / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Stress, Physiological
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Wings, Animal / embryology
  • Wnt1 Protein
  • beta-Galactosidase / analysis

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • Insect Hormones
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Wnt1 Protein
  • dpp protein, Drosophila
  • ptc protein, Drosophila
  • wg protein, Drosophila
  • hh protein, Drosophila
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • beta-Galactosidase