Intersection of Dorsal-Ventral Patterning and Growth Regulatory Pathways in the Drosophila eye

The developing eye of Drosophila is a well-established model for studying developmental genetic processes and growth regulation. The developmental genetic networks discovered in Drosophila are highly conserved in all animals including higher mammals. Axial patterning precedes differentiation in the Drosophila eye which begins from a ventral equivalent state. The dorsal fate is established by onset of expression of the GATA-family transcription factor Pannier (Pnr), and other dorsal-specific genes like Iroquois (Iro-C) family proteins. Our long-term goal is to understand the molecular basis of Dorsal-Ventral patterning and growth in the eye by interactions of the dorsal selector genes and growth regulatory genes. We recently identified dorsal proventriculus (dve) as a candidate for dorsal-ventral eye patterning. Preliminary data from our lab also suggests that Dve may interact with the Hippo growth regulatory pathway to control patterning and growth of the eye. We tested the interactions between Hippo pathway and dorsal-ventral patterning using the GAL4-UAS system. We tested if these pathways act independently to control eye patterning and growth or act via shared targets and regulatory interactions. In this context we wanted to address the effect of overexpressing Yki (the effector of the Hippo pathway) during larval development specifically in the dorsoventral domains of the imaginal discs using UAS-Gal4 system. We have studied effects in the wing and eye imaginal discs. Results will be discussed.https://ecommons.udayton.edu/stander_posters/3449/thumbnail.jp