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Two ligands signal through the Drosophila PDGF/VEGF receptor to ensure proper salivary gland positioning.

TitleTwo ligands signal through the Drosophila PDGF/VEGF receptor to ensure proper salivary gland positioning.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsHarris KE, Schnittke N, Beckendorf SK
JournalMechanisms of development
Volume124
Issue6
Pagination441-8
Date Published2007 Jul
ISSN1872-6356
KeywordsAnimals, Drosophila, Drosophila Proteins, Egg Proteins, Ligands, Morphogenesis, Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases, Salivary Glands, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
Abstract

The Drosophila embryonic salivary gland is a migrating tissue that undergoes a stereotypic pattern of migration into the embryo. We demonstrate that the migratory path of the salivary gland requires the PDGF/VEGF pathway. The PDGF/VEGF receptor, Pvr, is strongly expressed in the salivary glands, and Pvr mutations cause abnormal ventral curving of the glands, suggesting that Pvr is involved in gland migration. Although the Pvr ligands, Pvf1 and Pvf2, have distinct expression patterns in the Drosophila embryo, mutations for either one of the ligands result in salivary gland migration defects similar to those seen in embryos that lack Pvr. Rescue experiments indicate that the PDGF/VEGF pathway functions autonomously in the salivary gland. The results of this study demonstrate that the Drosophila PDGF/VEGF pathway is essential for proper positioning of the salivary glands.

DOI10.1016/j.mod.2007.03.003
Alternate JournalMech. Dev.


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