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Evidence for a glycosaminoglycan on the nudel protein important for dorsoventral patterning of the drosophila embryo
Author(s) -
Turcotte Cynthia L.,
Hashimoto Carl
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.10081
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , protease , embryo , biochemistry , enzyme
Dorsoventral patterning of the Drosophila embryo requires Nudel, a large mosaic protein with a protease domain. Previous studies have implicated Nudel's protease domain as the trigger of a proteolytic cascade that activates the Toll signaling pathway to establish dorsoventral polarity in the embryo. However, the function of other regions of Nudel has been unclear. By using two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and site‐directed mutagenesis, we have obtained evidence that the N‐terminal region of Nudel contains a site for glycosaminoglycan (GAG) attachment that is required for dorsoventral patterning. Disruption of this site blocks a disulfide‐based association between N‐ and C‐terminal Nudel polypeptides and proteolytic activation of Nudel's protease domain. We discuss how a GAG chain on Nudel might be required for Nudel protease activation. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.