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A Comparative Study of Drosophila and Human A-Type Lamins
Plos One
  • Sandra R. Schulze, Western Washington University
  • Beatrice Curio-Penny
  • Sean Speese
  • George Dialynas
  • Diane E. Cryderman
  • Cairtrin W. McDonough
  • Demet Nalbant
  • Melissa Petersen
  • Vivian Budnik
  • Pamela K. Geyer
  • Lori L. Wallrath
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-26-2009
Disciplines
Abstract

Nuclear intermediate filament proteins, called lamins, form a meshwork that lines the inner surface of the nuclear envelope. Lamins contain three domains: an N-terminal head, a central rod and a C-terminal tail domain possessing an Ig-fold structural motif. Lamins are classified as either A- or B-type based on structure and expression pattern. The Drosophila genome possesses two genes encoding lamins, Lamin C and lamin Dm0, which have been designated A- and B-type, respectively, based on their expression profile and structural features. In humans, mutations in the gene encoding A-type lamins are associated with a spectrum of predominantly tissue-specific diseases known as laminopathies. Linking the disease phenotypes to cellular functions of lamins has been a major challenge. Drosophila is being used as a model system to identify the roles of lamins in development. Towards this end, we performed a comparative study of Drosophila and human A-type lamins. Analysis of transgenic flies showed that human lamins localize predictably within the Drosophila nucleus. Consistent with this finding, yeast two-hybrid data demonstrated conservation of partner-protein interactions. Drosophila lacking A-type lamin show nuclear envelope defects similar to those observed with human laminopathies. Expression of mutant forms of the A-type Drosophila lamin modeled after human disease-causing amino acid substitutions revealed an essential role for the N-terminal head and the Ig-fold in larval muscle tissue. This tissue-restricted sensitivity suggests a conserved role for lamins in muscle biology. In conclusion, we show that (1) localization of A-type lamins and protein-partner interactions are conserved between Drosophila and humans, (2) loss of the Drosophila A-type lamin causes nuclear defects and (3) muscle tissue is sensitive to the expression of mutant forms of A-type lamin modeled after those causing disease in humans. These studies provide new insights on the role of lamins in nuclear biology and support Drosophila as a model for studies of human laminopathies involving muscle dysfunction.

Subjects - Topical (LCSH)
Drosophila--Genetics--Research; Human genetics--Research
Genre/Form
articles
Type
Text
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Sandra R. Schulze, Beatrice Curio-Penny, Sean Speese, George Dialynas, et al.. "A Comparative Study of Drosophila and Human A-Type Lamins" Plos One Vol. 4 Iss. 10 (2009)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/sandra_schulze/1/