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First published online 18 August 2009
doi: 10.1242/jcs.050955

Journal of Cell Science 122, 3242-3249 (2009)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2009
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Research Article

Protein phosphatase 2A negatively regulates aPKC signaling by modulating phosphorylation of Par-6 in Drosophila neuroblast asymmetric divisions

Hironori Ogawa, Nao Ohta, Woongjoon Moon* and Fumio Matsuzaki{ddagger}

Laboratory for Cell Asymmetry, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, 2-2-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan

{ddagger} Author for correspondence (fumio{at}cdb.riken.jp)

Accepted 22 June 2009

Drosophila neural stem cells or neuroblasts undergo typical asymmetric cell division. An evolutionally conserved protein complex, comprising atypical protein kinase C (aPKC), Bazooka (Par-3) and Par-6, organizes cell polarity to direct these asymmetric divisions. Aurora-A (AurA) is a key molecule that links the divisions to the cell cycle. Upon its activation in metaphase, AurA phosphorylates Par-6 and activates aPKC signaling, triggering the asymmetric organization of neuroblasts. Little is known, however, about how such a positive regulatory cue is counteracted to coordinate aPKC signaling with other cellular processes. During a mutational screen using the Drosophila compound eye, we identified microtubule star (mts), which encodes a catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), as a negative regulator for aPKC signaling. Impairment of mts function causes defects in neuroblast divisions, as observed in lethal (2) giant larvae (lgl) mutants. mts genetically interacts with par-6 and lgl in a cooperative manner in asymmetric neuroblast division. Furthermore, Mts tightly associates with Par-6 and dephosphorylates AurA-phosphorylated Par-6. Our genetic and biochemical evidence indicates that PP2A suppresses aPKC signaling by promoting Par-6 dephosphorylation in neuroblasts, which uncovers a novel balancing mechanism for aPKC signaling in the regulation of asymmetric cell division.

Key words: Drosophila, Mts, PP2A, aPKC, Asymmetric cell division, Neuroblast


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Related articles in JCS:

PP2A: balancing neuroblast polarity

JCS 2009 122: 1803. [Full Text]  



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H. Ogawa, N. Ohta, W. Moon, and F. Matsuzaki
Protein phosphatase 2A negatively regulates aPKC signaling by modulating phosphorylation of Par-6 in Drosophila neuroblast asymmetric divisions
Development, October 1, 2009; 136(19): e1 - e1.
[Full Text]


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