Warts is required for PI3K-regulated growth arrest, autophagy, and autophagic cell death in Drosophila.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cell growth arrest and autophagy are required for autophagic cell death in Drosophila. Maintenance of growth by expression of either activated Ras, Dp110, or Akt is sufficient to inhibit autophagy and cell death in Drosophila salivary glands, but the mechanism that controls growth arrest is unknown. Although the Warts (Wts) tumor suppressor is a critical regulator of tissue growth in animals, it is not clear how this signaling pathway controls cell growth.

Results

Here, we show that genes in the Wts pathway are required for salivary gland degradation and that wts mutants have defects in cell growth arrest, caspase activity, and autophagy. Expression of Atg1, a regulator of autophagy, in salivary glands is sufficient to rescue wts mutant salivary gland destruction.

SUBMITTER: Dutta S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2576500 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature