Rac function and regulation during Drosophila development

S Hakeda-Suzuki; J Ng; J Tzu; G Dietzl; Y Sun; M Harms; T Nardine; L Luo; B  J Dickson

doi:10.1038/416438a

Rac function and regulation during Drosophila development

S Hakeda-Suzuki, J Ng, J Tzu, G Dietzl, Y Sun, M Harms, T Nardine, L Luo, B J Dickson

King's College London

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

305 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Rac GTPases regulate the actin cytoskeleton to control changes in cell shape(1,2). To date, the analysis of Rac function during development has relied heavily on the use of dominant mutant isoforms. Here, we use loss-of-function mutations to show that the three Drosophila Rac genes, Rac1, Rac2 and Mtl, have overlapping functions in the control of epithelial morphogenesis, myoblast fusion, and axon growth and guidance. They are not required for the establishment of planar cell polarity, as had been suggested on the basis of studies using dominant mutant isoforms(3,4). The guanine nucleotide exchange factor, Trio, is essential for Rac function in axon growth and guidance, but not for epithelial morphogenesis or myoblast fusion. Different Rac activators thus act in different developmental processes. The specific cellular response to Rac activation may be determined more by the upstream activator than the specific Rac protein involved.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	438 - 442
Number of pages	5
Journal	NATURE
Volume	416
Issue number	6879
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/416438a
Publication status	Published - 28 Mar 2002

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title = "Rac function and regulation during Drosophila development",

abstract = "Rac GTPases regulate the actin cytoskeleton to control changes in cell shape(1,2). To date, the analysis of Rac function during development has relied heavily on the use of dominant mutant isoforms. Here, we use loss-of-function mutations to show that the three Drosophila Rac genes, Rac1, Rac2 and Mtl, have overlapping functions in the control of epithelial morphogenesis, myoblast fusion, and axon growth and guidance. They are not required for the establishment of planar cell polarity, as had been suggested on the basis of studies using dominant mutant isoforms(3,4). The guanine nucleotide exchange factor, Trio, is essential for Rac function in axon growth and guidance, but not for epithelial morphogenesis or myoblast fusion. Different Rac activators thus act in different developmental processes. The specific cellular response to Rac activation may be determined more by the upstream activator than the specific Rac protein involved.",

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T1 - Rac function and regulation during Drosophila development

AU - Hakeda-Suzuki, S

AU - Ng, J

AU - Tzu, J

AU - Dietzl, G

AU - Sun, Y

AU - Harms, M

AU - Nardine, T

AU - Luo, L

AU - Dickson, B J

PY - 2002/3/28

Y1 - 2002/3/28

N2 - Rac GTPases regulate the actin cytoskeleton to control changes in cell shape(1,2). To date, the analysis of Rac function during development has relied heavily on the use of dominant mutant isoforms. Here, we use loss-of-function mutations to show that the three Drosophila Rac genes, Rac1, Rac2 and Mtl, have overlapping functions in the control of epithelial morphogenesis, myoblast fusion, and axon growth and guidance. They are not required for the establishment of planar cell polarity, as had been suggested on the basis of studies using dominant mutant isoforms(3,4). The guanine nucleotide exchange factor, Trio, is essential for Rac function in axon growth and guidance, but not for epithelial morphogenesis or myoblast fusion. Different Rac activators thus act in different developmental processes. The specific cellular response to Rac activation may be determined more by the upstream activator than the specific Rac protein involved.

AB - Rac GTPases regulate the actin cytoskeleton to control changes in cell shape(1,2). To date, the analysis of Rac function during development has relied heavily on the use of dominant mutant isoforms. Here, we use loss-of-function mutations to show that the three Drosophila Rac genes, Rac1, Rac2 and Mtl, have overlapping functions in the control of epithelial morphogenesis, myoblast fusion, and axon growth and guidance. They are not required for the establishment of planar cell polarity, as had been suggested on the basis of studies using dominant mutant isoforms(3,4). The guanine nucleotide exchange factor, Trio, is essential for Rac function in axon growth and guidance, but not for epithelial morphogenesis or myoblast fusion. Different Rac activators thus act in different developmental processes. The specific cellular response to Rac activation may be determined more by the upstream activator than the specific Rac protein involved.

U2 - 10.1038/416438a

DO - 10.1038/416438a

M3 - Article

SN - 1476-4687

VL - 416

SP - 438

EP - 442

JO - NATURE

JF - NATURE

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Rac function and regulation during Drosophila development

Abstract

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