Summary: | 碩士 === 國立清華大學 === 分子醫學研究所 === 102 === wing morphogenesis defect (wmd) encodes a WD-40 domain-containing protein that plays critical roles in shaping wing morphology. Wmd shows significant homology with mammalian serine-threonine kinase receptor-associated protein (STRAP) that regulates transforming growth factor-β (TGF-s) signaling. WD-40 domain mediates diverse protein-protein interactions, including those involved in scaffolding and the cooperative assembly and regulation of dynamic multi-subunit complexes. We characterize the function of wmd during Drosophila development. Our results indicate that Wmd is involved in both oocyte determination during oogenesis and nuclear positioning in the developing photoreceptors. The progressive establishment of oocyte fate and nuclear positioning relies on microtubule-dependent. The microtubule network is thought to provide the basic intracellular framework for motility, while dynein and dynactin contribute motor activity and several mRNAs such as Bic-D, egl, orb and Dhc begin to accumulate in the oocyte. Disruption of microtubules results in a block in oocyte determination and nuclear migration. Previously studied, Wmd was shown to be a member of microtubule-associated proteins via a MT cosedimentation assay. These support the notion that Wmd functions with the microtubules to regulate nuclear migration. We show that germline clones of the wmd give rise to 16 nurse cell cysts, and we have analysed this phenotype using a variety of oocyte markers to investigate the role of Wmd in oocyte determination. Here we show that the Wmd acts together with microtubules and EB1 to stabilize microtubules to determine oocyte identity and required for nuclear localization in developing nervous system.
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