Dusky-like is required to maintain the integrity and planar cell polarity of hairs during the development of the Drosophila wing.

ABSTRACT: The cuticular hairs and sensory bristles that decorate the adult Drosophila epidermis and the denticles found on the embryo have been used in studies on planar cell polarity and as models for the cytoskeletal mediated morphogenesis of cellular extensions. ZP domain proteins have recently been found to be important for the morphogenesis of both denticles and bristles. Here we show that the ZP domain protein Dusky-like is a key player in hair morphogenesis. As is the case in bristles, in hairs dyl mutants display a dramatic phenotype that is the consequence of a failure to maintain the integrity of the extension after outgrowth. Hairs lacking dyl function are split, thinned, multipled and often very short. dyl is required for normal chitin deposition in hairs, but chitin is not required for

SUBMITTER: Adler PN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3686509 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature