Kakapo, a novel cytoskeletal-associated protein is essential for the restricted localization of the neuregulin-like factor, vein, at the muscle-tendon junction site.

ABSTRACT: In the Drosophila embryo, the correct association of muscles with their specific tendon cells is achieved through reciprocal interactions between these two distinct cell types. Tendon cell differentiation is initiated by activation of the EGF-receptor signaling pathway within these cells by Vein, a neuregulin-like factor secreted by the approaching myotube. Here, we describe the cloning and the molecular and genetic analyses of kakapo, a Drosophila gene, expressed in the tendons, that is essential for muscle-dependent tendon cell differentiation. Kakapo is a large intracellular protein and contains structural domains also found in cytoskeletal-related vertebrate proteins (including plakin, dystrophin, and Gas2 family members). kakapo mutant embryos exhibit abnormal muscle-dependent tendon

SUBMITTER: Strumpf D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2133081 | biostudies-literature | 1998 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature