Mapping Heart Development in Flies: Src42A Acts Non-Autonomously to Promote Heart Tube Formation in Drosophila

Congenital heart defects, clinically identified in both small and large animals, are multifactorial and complex. Although heritable factors are known to have a role in cardiovascular disease, the full genetic aetiology remains unclear. Model organism research has proven valuable in providing a deepe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary sciences 2017-04, Vol.4 (2), p.23
Main Authors: Vanderploeg, Jessica, Jacobs, J Roger
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
amnioserosa
Apoptosis
Cardiovascular diseases
Cell adhesion & migration
Cell death
Congenital diseases
Defects
Disease
Drosophila
Embryos
Extracellular matrix
FAK
Focal adhesion kinase
Gene mapping
genetics
Heart
Insects
Integrin
Integrins
Kinases
model organism
Morphogenesis
Proteins
Src42A
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Summary:Congenital heart defects, clinically identified in both small and large animals, are multifactorial and complex. Although heritable factors are known to have a role in cardiovascular disease, the full genetic aetiology remains unclear. Model organism research has proven valuable in providing a deeper understanding of the essential factors in heart development. For example, mouse knock-out studies reveal a role for the Integrin adhesion receptor in cardiac tissue. Recent research in (the fruit fly), a powerful experimental model, has demonstrated that the link between the extracellular matrix and the cell, mediated by Integrins, is required for multiple aspects of cardiogenesis. Here we test the hypothesis that Integrins signal to the heart cells through Src42A kinase. Using the powerful genetics and cell biology analysis possible in Drosophila, we demonstrate that Src42A acts in early events of heart tube development. Careful examination of mutant heart tissue and genetic interaction data suggests that Src42A's role is independent of Integrin and the Integrin-related Focal Adhesion Kinase. Rather, Src42A acts non-autonomously by promoting programmed cell death of the amnioserosa, a transient tissue that neighbors the developing heart.
ISSN:2306-7381
2306-7381
DOI:10.3390/vetsci4020023