Extramacrochaetae regulates Notch signaling in the <i>Drosophila</i> eye through non-apoptotic caspase activity.

ABSTRACT: Many cell fate decisions are determined transcriptionally. Accordingly, some fate specification is prevented by Inhibitor of DNA binding (Id) proteins that interfere with DNA binding by master regulatory transcription factors. We show that the Drosophila Id protein Extra macrochaetae (Emc) also affects developmental decisions by regulating caspase activity. Emc, which prevents proneural bHLH transcription factors from specifying neural cell fate, also prevents homodimerization of another bHLH protein, Daughterless (Da), and thereby maintains expression of the Death-Associated Inhibitor of Apoptosis (diap1) gene. Accordingly, we found that multiple effects of emc mutations on cell growth and on eye development were all caused by activation of caspases. These effe

SUBMITTER: Nair S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11312471 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature