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First published online 14 April 2009
doi: 10.1242/jcs.044271

Journal of Cell Science 122, 1362-1373 (2009)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2009
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Research Article

Dpp signaling promotes the cuboidal-to-columnar shape transition of Drosophila wing disc epithelia by regulating Rho1

Thomas J. Widmann and Christian Dahmann*

Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstr. 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: dahmann{at}mpi-cbg.de)

Accepted 7 January 2009

Morphogenesis is largely driven by changes in the shape of individual cells. However, how cell shape is regulated in developing animals is not well understood. Here, we show that the onset of TGFβ/Dpp signaling activity correlates with the transition from cuboidal to columnar cell shape in developing Drosophila melanogaster wing disc epithelia. Dpp signaling is necessary for maintaining this elongated columnar cell shape and overactivation of the Dpp signaling pathway results in precocious cell elongation. Moreover, we provide evidence that Dpp signaling controls the subcellular distribution of the activities of the small GTPase Rho1 and the regulatory light chain of non-muscle myosin II (MRLC). Alteration of Rho1 or MRLC activity has a profound effect on apical-basal cell length. Finally, we demonstrate that a decrease in Rho1 or MRLC activity rescues the shortening of cells with compromised Dpp signaling. Our results identify a cell-autonomous role for Dpp signaling in promoting and maintaining the elongated columnar shape of wing disc cells and suggest that Dpp signaling acts by regulating Rho1 and MRLC.

Key words: Drosophila, Wing imaginal disc, Cell shape, Cell extrusion, Dpp, Tkv, Brk, Rho1, RhoGEF2, Myosin II


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T. J. Widmann and C. Dahmann
Dpp signaling promotes the cuboidal-to-columnar shape transition of Drosophila wing disc epithelia by regulating Rho1
Development, May 15, 2009; 136(10): e1008 - e1008.
[Full Text]


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