Dasgupta R, Boutros M, Perrimon N.
Drosophila Wnt/Fz pathways. Sci STKE. 2005;2005 (283) :cm5.
AbstractWnts [also known as Wingless (Wg)] are a family of conserved signaling molecules involved in a plethora of fundamental developmental and cell biological processes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell polarity. Dysregulation of the pathway can be detrimental, because several components are tumorigenic when mutated and are associated with hepatic, colorectal, breast, and skin cancers. First identified in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a gene family responsible for patterning the embryonic epidermis, the Wnt gene family, including Wg, encode secreted glycoproteins that activate receptor-mediated signaling pathways leading to numerous transcriptional and cellular responses. The main function of the canonical Wg pathway is to stabilize the cytoplasmic pool of a key mediator, beta-catenin [beta-catenin, known as Armadillo (Arm) in fruit flies], which is otherwise degraded by the proteasome pathway. Initially identified as a key player in stabilizing cell-cell adherens junctions, Arm is now known to also act as a transcription factor by forming a complex with the lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF)/T cell-specific transcription factor (TCF) family of high mobility group (HMG)-box transcription factors. Upon Wnt/Wg stimulation, stabilized Arm translocates to the nucleus, where, together with LEF/TCF transcription factors, it activates downstream target genes that regulate numerous cell biological processes.
2005_Sci Signal_Dasgupta.pdf Häcker U, Nybakken K, Perrimon N.
Heparan sulphate proteoglycans: the sweet side of development. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2005;6 (7) :530-41.
AbstractPattern formation during development is controlled to a great extent by a small number of conserved signal transduction pathways that are activated by extracellular ligands such as Hedgehog, Wingless or Decapentaplegic. Genetic experiments have identified heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs) as important regulators of the tissue distribution of these extracellular signalling molecules. Several recent reports provide important new insights into the mechanisms by which HSPGs function during development.
2005_NRMCB_Hacker.pdf Armknecht S, Boutros M, Kiger A, Nybakken K, Mathey-Prevot B, Perrimon N.
High-throughput RNA interference screens in Drosophila tissue culture cells. Methods Enzymol. 2005;392 :55-73.
AbstractThis chapter describes the method used to conduct high-throughput screening (HTs) by RNA interference in Drosophila tissue culture cells. It covers four main topics: (1) a brief description of the existing platforms to conduct RNAi-screens in cell-based assays; (2) a table of the Drosophila cell lines available for these screens and a brief mention of the need to establish other cell lines as well as cultures of primary cells; (3) a discussion of the considerations and protocols involved in establishing assays suitable for HTS in a 384-well format; and (A) a summary of the various ways of handling raw data from an ongoing screen, with special emphasis on how to apply normalization for experimental variation and statistical filters to sort out noise from signals.
2005_Meth Enzym_Armknecht.pdf Kulkarni MM, Perrimon N.
Super-size flies. Cell Metab. 2005;1 (5) :288-90.
AbstractThe increasing prevalence of obesity and other nutrition-related chronic diseases has prompted considerable efforts to understand their pathogenesis and treatment. One experimental approach is to overexpress, inactivate, or manipulate specific genes that regulate energy metabolism and fat storage. Many such techniques are fully established, routine tools in Drosophila and C. elegans, which provide elegant models for dissecting endocrine problems and metabolic pathways.
2005_Cell Metab_Kulkarni.pdf