biostudies-literatureChen JCancer Research UKRoyal Society K.C. Wong Postdoctoral FellowshipWellcome Truste3000041https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6209374biostudies-literatureUnknown16(10)Apical-basal polarity is essential for the formation and function of epithelial tissues, whereas loss of polarity is a hallmark of tumours. Studies in Drosophila have identified conserved polarity factors that define the apical (Crumbs, Stardust, Par-6, atypical protein kinase C [aPKC]), junctional (Bazooka [Baz]/Par-3), and basolateral (Scribbled [Scrib], Discs large [Dlg], Lethal [2] giant larvae [Lgl]) domains of epithelial cells. Because these conserved factors mark equivalent domains in diverse types of vertebrate and invertebrate epithelia, it is generally assumed that this system underlies polarity in all epithelia. Here, we show that this is not the case, as none of these canonical factors are required for the polarisation of the endodermal epithelium of the Drosophila adult midgutPLoS biologyAn alternative mode of epithelial polarity in the Drosophila midgut.PMC6209374A24823203144092096207496083348080007207496/Z/17/ZA14492Sayadian ACChen JLowe NLovegrove HESt Johnston DfalseAn alternative mode of epithelial polarity in the Drosophila midgut.Apical-basal polarity is essential for the formation and function of epithelial tissues, whereas loss of polarity is a hallmark of tumours. Studies in Drosophila have identified conserved polarity factors that define the apical (Crumbs, Stardust, Par-6, atypical protein kinase C [aPKC]), junctional (Bazooka [Baz]/Par-3), and basolateral (Scribbled [Scrib], Discs large [Dlg], Lethal [2] giant larvae [Lgl]) domains of epithelial cells. Because these conserved factors mark equivalent domains in diverse types of vertebrate and invertebrate epithelia, it is generally assumed that this system underlies polarity in all epithelia. Here, we show that this is not the case, as none of these canonical factors are required for the polarisation of the endodermal epithelium of the Drosophila adult midgut2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Oct2026-07-08T03:14:06.245Z2019-03-27T00:07:39ZS-EPMC62093743033969810.1371/journal.pbio.3000041