The mlpt/Ubr3/Svb module comprises an ancient developmental switch for embryonic patterning

Ray S, Rosenberg M, Chanut-Delalande H, Decaras A, Schwertner B, Toubiana W, Auman T, Schnellhammer I, Teuscher M, Valenti P, Khila A, Klingler M, Payre F (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

eLife eLife Sciences Publications

Book Volume: 8

DOI: 10.7554/eLife.39748

Abstract

Small open reading frames (smORFs) encoding 'micropeptides' exhibit remarkable evolutionary complexity. Conserved peptides encoded by mille-pattes (mlpt)/polished rice (pri)/tarsal less (tal) are essential for embryo segmentation in Tribolium but, in Drosophila, function in terminal epidermal differentiation and patterning of adult legs. Here, we show that a molecular complex identified in Drosophila epidermal differentiation, comprising Mlpt peptides, ubiquitinligase Ubr3 and transcription factor Shavenbaby (Svb), represents an ancient developmental module required for early insect embryo patterning. We find that loss of segmentation function for this module in flies evolved concomitantly with restriction of Svb expression in early Drosophila embryos. Consistent with this observation, artificially restoring early Svb expression in flies causes segmentation defects that depend on mlpt function, demonstrating enduring potency of an ancestral developmental switch despite evolving embryonic patterning modes. These results highlight the evolutionary plasticity of conserved molecular complexes under the constraints of essential genetic networks.

Authors with CRIS profile

Suparna Ray Professur für Entwicklungsbiologie Barbara Schwertner Lehrstuhl für Entwicklungsbiologie Irene Schnellhammer Professur für Entwicklungsbiologie Matthias Teuscher Lehrstuhl für Entwicklungsbiologie Martin Klingler Professur für Entwicklungsbiologie

Involved external institutions

Hebrew University of Jerusalem IL Israel (IL) Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier FR France (FR) Institut de Génomique Fonctionelle de Lyon igfl FR France (FR)

How to cite

APA:

Ray, S., Rosenberg, M., Chanut-Delalande, H., Decaras, A., Schwertner, B., Toubiana, W.,... Payre, F. (2019). The mlpt/Ubr3/Svb module comprises an ancient developmental switch for embryonic patterning. eLife, 8. https://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.39748

MLA:

Ray, Suparna, et al. "The mlpt/Ubr3/Svb module comprises an ancient developmental switch for embryonic patterning." eLife 8 (2019).

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