Patched and Costal-2 mutations lead to differences in tissue overgrowth autonomy

ABSTRACT

Genetic screens are used in Drosophila melanogaster to identify genes key in the regulation of organismal development and growth. These screens have defined signalling pathways necessary for tissue and organismal development, which are evolutionarily conserved across species, including Drosophila. Here, we have used an FLP/FRT mosaic system to screen for conditional regulators of cell growth and cell division in the Drosophila eye. The conditional nature of this screen utilizes a block in the apoptotic pathway to prohibit the mosaic mutant cells from dying via apoptosis. From this screen, we identified two different mutants that mapped to the Hedgehog signalling pathway. Previously, we described a novel Ptc mutation and here we add to the understanding of disrupting the Hh pathway with a novel allele of Cos2. Both of these Hh components are negative regulators of the pathway, yet they depict mutant differences in the type of overgrowth created. Ptc mutations lead to overgrowth consisting of almost entirely wild-type tissue (non-autonomous overgrowth), while the Cos2 mutation results in tissue that is overgrown in both the mutant and wild-type clones (both autonomous and non-autonomous). These differences in tissue overgrowth are consistent in the Drosophila eye and wing. The observed difference is correlated with different deregulation patterns of pMad, the downstream effector of DPP signalling. This finding provides insight into pathway-specific differences that help to better understand intricacies of developmental processes and human diseases that result from deregulated Hedgehog signalling, such as basal cell carcinoma.

Introduction

Drosophila melanogaster is a long-established model system with particular usefulness in understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying many life processes, including the genetic regulation of growth and development. A large proportion of the genes that regulate growth in developing tissues across species, including humans, were first identified using genetic screens in Drosophila [1]. The Flp/FRT genetic system has been used in genetic screens to identify genes involved in regulating growth and differentiation by analysing the ratios of mutant to wild-type tissue and overall ommatidial patterning within the Drosophila eye. Genes identified in these screens have been implicated in human diseases, many of which were initially discovered in Drosophila and later found to be disease causing in human [2–5].

In developing our genetic screen, we hypothesized that a subset of mutations would lead to the removal of mutant cells through apoptosis (when homozygous), thus causing specific mutations to be missed in the initial iterations of the Flp/FRT screen [1,6]. Since the inhibition of apoptosis remains a key step during carcinogenesis for cancer cells to avoid a primary defence mechanism [7], this inhibition remains an important genetic process to understand. Therefore, we conducted a second-generation conditional Flp/FRT EMS screen on chromosome 2R in a genetic background blocking apoptosis to identify conditional regulators of cell growth and division [8]. A number of growth mutants are conditional with a block in apoptosis (i.e. scribbled) providing further rationale for the screen [9].

From this screen, we have previously reported on several conditional regulators of cell growth and cell division including CPA and Shn, demonstrating the occurrence of these conditional growth mutants [10,11]. Here, we describe the overgrowth caused by two of these mutants identified in the screen that are both part of the Hedgehog signalling pathway, Patched (Ptc) and Costal-2 (Cos2).

The Hedgehog pathway (Hh) is a highly conserved signalling pathway essential to organismal development [12,13]. This pathway was first identified for its role in segment polarity during Drosophila embryo development [14]. Since that discovery, Hh has been found to be a critical pathway in regulating cell differentiation and growth across model organisms. In humans, mutations in the Hh pathway have been linked to both developmental abnormalities and disease later in life, making it a relevant diagnostic and therapeutic target [15].

The Hh pathway starts with the Hedgehog (Hh) ligand binding to the transmembrane receptor Patched (Ptc). When unbound, Ptc inhibits Smoothened (Smo). The binding of Hh to Ptc stops the suppression of Smoothened, leading to downstream repression of proteins including Protein Kinase A (PKA) and the kinesin Costal-2 (Cos2) [16]. In the absence of Hh, PKA/Cos2 kinase complex phosphorylates Cubitus interruptus (Ci), which promotes proteolytic processing of Ci into a transcriptional repressor [17]. Hh inhibits Ci phosphorylation by PKA/Cos2 and the formation of Ci repressor form, allowing the accumulated full-length Ci to translocate into the nucleus and act as a transcriptional activator [18]. Ci has several known transcriptional targets including Ptc, which then serves as a negative feedback loop for the pathway [19].

Previously, we reported on PtcB.2.13, that was identified as a conditional regulator of overgrowth [8]. The Ptc^B.2.13 mutation leads to non-autonomous overgrowth driven by the non-autonomous activity of Yorkie and pMad in cells that are adjacent to the Ptc^B.2.13 clones. Complementing these findings was a companion study utilizing the GMR-Hid mosaic screen conducted by the Bergmann lab [20].

Here, we add to the knowledge of the interplay between growth regulation, tissue development, and cell survival in the Hh pathway. We find that Cos2 is also a Hh pathway conditional regulator of cell growth, dependent upon a block in the canonical apoptosis pathway. However, despite both Ptc and Cos2 serving as negative regulators of the Hh signalling pathway, we find differences in the autonomous nature of the overgrowth: Ptc mutant clones drive a non-autonomous overgrowth, while Cos2 mutant clones lead to both an autonomous and non-autonomous overgrowth. These findings provide insight into how disruptions to different points of the Hh signalling pathway lead to different consequences for growth and development.

Methods

Conditional genetic screen for regulators of cell growth and division

An EMS screen was conducted on chromosome 2R utilizing Flp/FRT system in the Drosophila eye. This screen utilized FRT42D, Dark⁸² as a starting chromosome to identify mutations that disrupted cell division and growth, dependent on the Dark⁸² block of apoptosis [8]. The Dark⁸² allele utilized has been shown to block developmental apoptosis when homozygous [21]. From the screen, 137 mutants were identified, and stable stocks were created. Selected growth mutants were mapped via complementation mapping to the Bloomington 2R Deficiency kit [22]. Previously, we mapped a novel allele of Patched (Ptc^B.2.13) [8]. From the same screen here, we report a novel allele of Costal-2 (Cos2^F.1.4). The mutant stock Cos2^F.1.4 failed to complement two previously characterized alleles of Cos2, Cos2^k16101 and Cos2^H29 [23,24].

To identify the specific molecular lesion causing the growth phenotypes in Ptc and Cos2, PCR primers were designed to the exons of each gene to identify the underlying molecular lesion. DNA was isolated utilizing Li/Cl, KAc from heterozygous Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 animals. Following successful PCR amplification, samples were sent for Sanger sequencing to identify heterozygous point mutations in the chromatograms (Genewiz, New Jersey).

Genetics

In addition to the Dark⁸² allele [21], the following genotypes were used in these experiments Ey-Flp; FRT42D (BDSC), Ey-Flp; FRT42D, ubi-GFP, Ey-Flp; FRT42D, M(2) (BDSC), UBX-Flp; FRT42D, ubi-GFP (BDSC), Cos2^H29 allele [23], Cos2^K161010 (BDSC) [24], Cos2^P50 [25], and Ptc^S2 [26]. The 2R deficiency kit from the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center was used for genetic mapping via complementation tests [22]. All crosses were conducted at 25°C.

Adult eye and wing visualization

Images were taken of the adult mosaic eyes at the same magnification (40x) under 70% ethanol to compare the size of eye and the ratio of mutant/wild-type tissue. In cases where the cross was set up to a stock containing the pigmented Dark⁸² allele, the ‘Flp’ stock contained an unpigmented FRT42D chromosome. When the Dark⁸² allele was not present, the ‘Flp’ stock utilized an FRT42D chromosome with pigmentation (FRT42D, ubi-GFP). Adult wings were mounted to slides in vegetable oil and imaged at the same magnification (70x) to allow comparison of size differences between genotypes. Quantification of adult wing size was done measuring pixels on Photoshop of at least 10 wings per genotype. For both wings and eyes, the images were taken on an AM Scope camera (AM scope 550 MA).

Immunohistochemistry

Imaginal eye and wing discs were dissected from wandering L3 larvae as previously described [8,27]. Briefly, imaginal discs were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and permeabilized in 0.3% PBST prior to staining with antibodies. Antibodies from Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank: anti-Ptc (mouse, 1:40), anti-Elav (rat 1:800) and anti-Ci (rat, 1:100) were used to stain eye and wing discs. Other antibodies used were anti-phospho-Smad1/5 (pMad) (rabbit 1:100, Cell Signalling), anti-DIAP1 (mouse, 1:50) [28], and anti-GFP (chicken, 1:100, Aves Labs). Imaginal eye and wing discs were visualized on a compound fluorescent microscope or confocal microscope using the Zen microscopy software (Zeiss microscopy).

Analysis of fluorescent images

Imaginal eye and wing disc size and autonomy were calculated using Photoshop to measure the number of pixels in each genotype. At least 10 imaginal discs were quantified for each genotype. Autonomy was determined by calculating the percentage of non-GFP (mutant) tissue divided by the whole tissue size using pixels in Photoshop. T-tests were used to analyse the differences in autonomy between Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 mosaic tissue, and p values were calculated to determine the significance. For these comparisons, a p value <0.05 was used for significance. To measure the levels of pMad expression across the clonal boundaries, fluorescent intensity was measured using the Zen microscopy line scan to measure signal intensity (Zeiss microscopy).

Results

Ptc and Cos2 alleles were isolated from a conditional Flp/FRT eye screen and mapped to genes in the Hedgehog pathway

In the genetic background of blocked apoptosis, mutants that disrupted cell growth and cell division in the mosaic eye were isolated in an EMS Flp/FRT genetic screen [8]. Previously, Ptc^B.2.13 was mapped as a novel allele of Ptc via complementation mapping, which resulted in a failure to complement the Ptc^S2 allele [8,26].

We mapped the F.1.4 mutant using homozygous lethality and complementation tests to the 2R Df kit [22]. A region of failure to complement was identified in the overlapping region between the deficiencies Df(2R)ED1715 and Df(2R)1673 from 2R:7,326,951.7,533,553. The F.1.4 mutant was mated to individual alleles within this region and failed to complement two previously characterized Cos2 alleles, Cos2^k16101 and Cos2^H29, indicating that Cos^F.1.4 is a novel allele of Cos2 [23,24].

To further confirm the location of these mutations and to understand the molecular alterations, we conducted Sanger sequencing of both heterozygous Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 flies. For Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4, a double-peak in each chromatogram was observed resulting in missense mutations in an amino acid conserved between flies and humans. In Ptc^B.2.13, a T to A at 2R:8,660,339 was identified resulting in a Trp-173-Arg missense mutation (Supplemental Figure 1). In Cos2^F.1.4, a T to A at 2R:8,660,339 was identified, resulting in a Leu-951-Gln missense mutation (Supplemental Figure 1). The identified missense mutations along with the failure to complement data from established Ptc and Cos alleles establish Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 as mutant alleles of the Hh pathway.

Ptc and Cos2 are conditional growth mutants necessary for eye development

We previously reported on the non-autonomous overgrowth of the Ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² mosaic eyes as compared to the control Dark⁸² mosaic eyes (Figure 1a compared to 1b, mutant tissue is pigmented) [8]. Here, we add that Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² also results in dramatically overgrown mosaic eye when compared to the control mosaic Dark⁸² (Figure 1a compared to 1c, mutant tissue pigmented). To visualize the ommatidial organization of the eye, we mated mutants to an FRT42D chromosome with GFP (Ey-Flp; FRT42D, ubi-GFP). Fluorescent apotome images show the Dark⁸² mosaic eye to have organized and patterned ommatidial structure in both the Dark⁸²/Dark⁸² clones (darker tissue) and adjacent wild-type clones (brighter GFP positive tissue) (Figure 1d). In contrast, both Dark⁸², Ptc^B.2.13 and Dark⁸², Cos2^F.1.4 have a disrupted ommatidial organization that can be visualized by the misalignment of ommatidia throughout the eye, the disruption of ommatidial organization can be seen in both mutant clones (darker tissue) and wild-type clones (lighter tissue) suggesting that Hh pathway disruption has both autonomous and non-autonomous effects on overall eye development (Figure 1e–f).

Figure 1.

Alleles of Patched and Costal-2 isolated from the same conditional Flp/FRT screen as negative regulators of cell growth and cell division in the eye. Mosaic adult eyes imaged via light microscopy by mating Ey-Flp;FRT42D to (a) control eye FRT42D, Dark⁸² (b) FRT42D, ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² (c) FRT42D, Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² (mutant tissue pigmented via mw+ in Dark⁸² allele). Fluorescent apotome images to visualize ommatidial organization by mating Ey-Flp;FRT42D, ubi-GFP to (d) control eye FRT42D, Dark⁸² (e) FRT42D, ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² (f) FRT42D, Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² (mutant tissue, darker, fluorescent negative). Light microscope images without Dark⁸² allele through mating Ey-Flp;FRT42D, ubi-GFP to (g) FRT42D, ptc^B.2.13 (h) FRT42D, Cos2^F.1.4 (mutant tissue is non-pigmented). Light microscope images of eyes comprised entirely of mutant tissue by mating Ey-Flp;FRT42D, M(2) to (i) FRT42D, ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² (j) FRT42D, Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² (mutant tissue is pigmented mw+). * denotes pupal lethality.

To investigate the degree to which the block in apoptosis contributes to the overgrowth phenotypes, we reintroduced the wild-type Dark allele through recombination, allowing homozygous cells to again go through apoptosis in mosaic eyes. Without a block in apoptosis, both Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 mosaic eyes depict a partial rescue of overgrowth, indicating that both mutant overgrowth phenotypes are, at least in part, dependent upon a block in apoptosis (Figure 1g–h, mutant tissue unpigmented). Though the eyes size is reduced when apoptosis is reintroduced, eye organizational disruption remains and can be observed in both Hh mutants. Additionally, both Ptc^B.2.13 or Cos2^F.1.4 mosaic eyes had a reduction in visible unpigmented tissue (mutant tissue) as compared with Dark⁸², Ptc^B.2.13 and Dark⁸², Cos2^F.1.4, which indicates that the majority (if not all) of the mutant cells may have been cleared by apoptosis upon the reintroduction of the wild-type Dark allele.

We next generated eyes entirely comprised mutant tissue by mating the Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 mutants to an FRT chromosome with a homozygous lethal mutation (minute). The minute/minute clones are eliminated via apoptosis, leaving behind a developing eye disc that is entirely mutant for either Ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² or Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸². In both cases, Ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² and Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² mutants resulted in pupal lethality and a severe reduction in overall head size, highlighting the need for functional Hedgehog signalling in the developing eye and overall organismal survival (Figure 1i–j).

Ptc and Cos2 mutations drive conditional overgrowth and pupal lethality in the mosaic wing

To better understand the generalized nature of this conditional Hh-deregulated overgrowth, we analysed mosaic wing discs phenotypes utilizing the UBX-Flp driver. Previously, we found that Ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² mosaic wing led to a dramatic tissue overgrowth, resulting in pupal lethality due to wing size [8]. Here we find that similar to Ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² (Figure 2b), the Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² mosaic wing discs result in substantial tissue overgrowth and complete pupal lethality (Figure 2a compared to 2c). While both the Ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² and Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² mosaic wing discs were substantially larger than the Dark⁸² control disc, we noted that the overall size of the Ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² mosaic disc was consistently larger than the Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² mosaic wing disc, though the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.06355497) (Figure 2d). Despite there not being a statistical difference in size, there was an observable biological difference between Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 mutants when the ability to undergo apoptosis was re-introduced by recombining the wild-type Dark^WT allele. The reintroduction of apoptosis (via Dark⁺) fully rescued the Cos2^F.1.4 mosaic pupal lethality, while the majority of Ptc^B.2.13 mosaic organisms still succumbed to pupal lethality (Figure 2e). Furthermore, the resulting Cos2^F.1.4 mosaic wings were indistinguishable in size from control mosaic wings (Figure 2f). The rare Ptc^B.2.13 escaper still had enlarged adults wing and depicted the ‘wings held out’ phenotype (Figure 2g). So while both Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 result in dramatic wing overgrowth, there are differences in the extent of tissue overgrowth based on which part of the Hh pathway is disrupted.

Figure 2.

Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 exhibit conditional overgrowth phenotypes in the Drosophila wing that result in pupal lethality. Third instar imaginal wing discs were visualized by light microscopy for UBX-Flp:FRT42D mated to (a) control eye FRT42D, Dark⁸² (b) FRT42D, ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² (c) FRT42D, Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸². Both Ptc and Cos2 wing discs resulted in complete pupal lethality. Average size of third instar imaginal wing disc (in pixels) for (d) FRT42D, ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² and FRT42D, Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² mosaic wing discs. Error bars represent standard deviation. Difference is not statistically significant. (e) Percentage of adults that eclosed without Dark⁸² allele for FRT42D, ptc^B.2.13 and FRT42D, Cos2^F.1.4. (f) Comparison of adult wing size (in pixels) of control (FRT42D) and (FRT42D, Cos2^F.1.4) wings, 10 wings per genotype and sex. (g) Image of FRT42D, ptc^B.2.13 escaper, depicting wings held out phenotype.

Patched and Costal-2 exhibit differences in the autonomy of overgrowth

While both Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 are conditional regulators of cell growth and tissue size, we observed differences in the ratio of mutant (pigmented) to wild-type (unpigmented) tissue (Figure 1(b,c)). The Dark⁸², Ptc ^B.2.13 mosaic eye is comprised of mostly wild-type tissue, suggesting a non-autonomous overgrowth (Figure 1(b,e)) and [8], while the Dark⁸², Cos2^F.1.4 mosaic eye depicts more gross overgrowth (both autonomous and non-autonomous tissue overgrowth Figure (1 c,f)). To measure the extent of this difference, we utilized imaginal eye and wing discs to determine the percentage each disc is comprised of homozygous mutant tissue in Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 mutants. Using imaginal discs allowed for quantification of 2-D tissue instead of 3-D eye ratios. In these imaginal discs, we observe a statistically significant difference (p = 0.01827498) in which the Dark⁸², Ptc^B.2.13 eye discs are comprised of (8.1%) mutant tissue (non-GFP positive), while the Dark⁸², Cos2^F.1.4 eye discs are comprised of (17.2%) mutant tissue (non-GFP positive) (Figure 3(a–c)). This difference in autonomous overgrowth exists between mutants despite both genotypes resulting in premature differentiation (and mitotic arrest) in the imaginal eye discs (observed by ectopic Elav expression before the morphogenetic furrow in both Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 mosaic eye discs, (Supplemental Figure 2). Similarly, in the wing disc, we find that 12.6% of Dark⁸², Ptc ^B.2.13 imaginal wing discs are comprised of mutant tissue, while 25.9% of Dark⁸², Cos2^F.1.4 imaginal wing discs are comprised of mutant tissue, p = 0.00605447 (Figure 3(d–f)). As a comparison, we have previously reported the Dark⁸² mosaic wing disc to be ~38% Dark⁸²/Dark⁸² mutant cells. The difference in tissue autonomy of Ptc and Cos2 in the eye and wing overgrowth autonomy suggest that these are pathway disruption differences and not a phenomenon of tissue-specific developmental signalling. To understand how mutations in the same pathway could lead to different varieties of tissue overgrowth, we utilized imaginal disc staining to observe molecular alterations that accompany these mutations.

Figure 3.

Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 exhibit distinct types of autonomous overgrowth in the eye and wing. Third instar imaginal eye discs were visualized by fluorescent microscopy for crosses of Ey-Flp;FRT42D, ubi-GFP mated to (a) FRT42D, ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² (b) FRT42D, Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² (homozygous mutant tissue is GFP negative). (c) Percentage of mosaic disc comprised mutant tissue for FRT42D, ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² and FRT42D, Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² measured by pixels. >10 imaginal discs quantified for each genotype. Error bars represent standard deviation and p value is from paired T-test. Third instar imaginal wing discs were visualized by light microscopy for crosses of UBX-Flp;FRT42D, ubi-GFP mated to (d) FRT42D, ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² (e) FRT42D, Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² (homozygous mutant tissue is GFP negative). Anterior portion of the wing disc oriented to the right. (f) Percentage of mosaic disc comprised mutant tissue for FRT42D, ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² and FRT42D, Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² measured by pixels. >10 imaginal discs quantified for each genotype. Error bars represent standard deviation and p value shown from paired T-test.

Additional alleles of both Ptc and Cos2 were studied to determine if the difference in overgrowth autonomy observed in Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 is consistent across independently generated alleles. We utilized two previously characterized alleles Ptc^S2 and Cos2^P50 [25,26]. Both alleles were recombined to include the Dark⁸² allele and adult mosaic eyes were visualized as Z-stacks. We find that the difference in overgrowth autonomy is consistent across alleles. Dark⁸², Ptc^S2 mosaic eyes demonstrate a severely overgrown adult eye that is comprised mostly of wild-type tissue (non-autonomous overgrowth). This finding is similar to our Dark⁸², Ptc^B.2.13 mosaic eye (compare Figure 1e with supplemental Figure 3b). Additionally, we find that Dark⁸², Cos2^P50 generates a severely overgrown and disorganized adult eye comprised of fairly equal ratios of homozygous mutant and wild-type tissue similar to Dark⁸², Cos2^F.1.4 (compare Figure with supplemental Figure 3c). The consistent difference observed in Cos2 and Ptc conditional overgrowth across independently generated alleles suggests that this difference is not specific to the Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos^F.1.4 alleles but generalizable to mutations in these genes.

Ptc and Cos2 autonomously deregulate Hedgehog pathway signalling

Both Ptc and Cos2 are upstream negative regulators of the canonical Hedgehog signalling pathway and function to sequester the transcription factor Cubitus interruptus (Ci) in the cytoplasm [29]. Previously, we established that Ptc^B.2.13 mutant clones result in an autonomous upregulation of Dpp, Patched, and Ci (Figure 4b, [8]). Cos2 mutations have also been shown to autonomously upregulate downstream Hh targets [23,25,30]. Here, we support these findings through the observation of an upregulation of cleaved Ci in Dark⁸², Ptc^B.2.13 and Dark⁸², Cos2^F.1.4 imaginal wing disc clones (Figure 3(b–c)). Conversely, Dark⁸² mosaic wings demonstrate a wild-type expression pattern of Ci, suggesting that the Ci overexpression is not resultant from a block in apoptosis (Figure 3a). The deregulation of Ci in Ptc and Cos2 mutants occurs exclusively in clones on the anterior side of the wing disc correspondent with the expression domain of Ci (all wing discs are oriented with anterior to the right). Dark⁸², Cos2^F.1.4 also phenocopies the Dark⁸², Ptc^B.2.13 autonomous increase of Patched expression in the anterior domain of the wing disc (Ptc is also a Ci target gene) (Supplemental Figure 4). Overall, this suggests that mutations in Ptc or Cos2 disrupt the Hh pathway and lead to an autonomous increase of Hh signalling.

Figure 4.

Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 autonomously upregulated Ci within mutant clones in the anterior compartment of imaginal wing discs. Ci levels visualized in third instar imaginal wing discs through staining and fluorescent microscopy for crosses of UBX-Flp;FRT42D, ubi-GFP mated to (a) control FRT42D, Dark⁸² (b) FRT42D, ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² (c) FRT42D, Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² (mutant tissue is GFP negative). Anterior portion of wing discs are oriented to the right.

Ptc and Cos2 mutant clones result in a non-autonomous upregulation of DIAP1

Previously, our lab and others have established a link between Hh deregulation and non-autonomous DIAP1 upregulation in both Ptc and Cos2 mosaic tissue [8,23,25]. To ensure this non-autonomous upregulation of DIAP1 is consistent across Cos2 alleles, we measured the levels of DIAP1 expression in mosaic imaginal wing discs for Cos2^F.1.4. As conveyed previously, Dark⁸², Ptc^B.2.13 leads to the non-autonomous upregulation of DIAP1 (Figure 5a), which can be visualized as the halo of DIAP1 expression just outside of the Ptc^B.2.13 clonal borders. The Dark⁸², Cos2^F.1.4 mutant also leads to the non-autonomous increase in DIAP1 expression (Figure 5b) visualized as halos of DIAP1 upregulation immediately outside the Cos2^F.1.4 clones. To more easily visualize the non-autonomous nature of the DIAP1 overexpression, we utilized Ci to mark the mutant clones, which provides an easier observation of expression at the clonal boundaries. Further, this upregulation of DIAP1 is confined to the anterior compartment suggesting it is dependent on the Ci overexpression autonomously to facilitate the non-autonomous DIAP1 upregulation (Figure 5).

Figure 5.

Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 non-autonomously upregulated DIAP1 just outside of mutant clone boundaries in the anterior compartment of imaginal wing discs. DIAP1 levels visualized in third instar imaginal wing discs through staining and fluorescent microscopy for crosses of UBX-Flp;FRT42D, ubi-GFP;FRT42D, ubi-GFP mated to (a) FRT42D, Dark⁸² mosaic stained with DIAP1. (b-b”) FRT42D, ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² stained with DIAP1 and Ci (to mark homozygous mutant clones) (c-c”) FRT42D, Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² stained with DIAP1 and Ci (to mark homozygous mutant clones). Anterior portion of wing discs are oriented to the right.

Ptc and Cos2 mutations have different patterns of deregulated pMad

Previously, we found that the non-autonomous increase in DIAP1 and non-autonomous tissue proliferation of the Dark⁸², Ptc^B.2.13 mutants were shown to be dependent on the concurrent non-autonomous up regulation of pMad and the interaction of pMad and Yorkie to drive non-autonomous survival and proliferation [8]. Here, we investigated if Cos2^F.1.4 mutant clones also deregulate pMad in a similar manner. The non-autonomous activation of pMad in Dark⁸², Ptc^B.2.13 mosaic wing discs, is visualized by the demonstrable increase in pMad expression just outside of the mutant clone (mutant clones again marked by Ci expression to visualize pMad expression at the clonal boundaries) (Figure 6a–a”). This non-autonomous increase is also seen via line scan, where the peaks of pMad expression are just outside of the mutant clonal boundaries and dissipate further away from the mutant clone (Figure 6b, clones marked by arrows).

Figure 6.

Ptc^B.2.13 and Cos2^F.1.4 differentially upregulated pMad inside mutant clones. pMad levels visualized in third instar imaginal wing discs through staining and fluorescent microscopy for crosses of UBX-Flp;FRT42D, ubi-GFP mated to (a-a”) FRT42D, Ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² (mutant tissue are marked by Ci upregulated tissue) (b) quantification of pMad1/5 levels across the mutant clonal boundaries in Ptc^B.2.13 mutant clones. Arrows denote clonal boundaries. (c-c”) FRT42D, Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² (mutant tissue are marked by Ci upregulated tissue) (d) quantification of pMad levels across the mutant clonal boundaries in Ptc^B.2.13 mutant clones. Arrows denote clonal boundaries. Anterior portion of wing discs are oriented to the right.

In Dark⁸², Cos2^F.1.4 clones we also see a deregulation and overexpression of pMad expression. However, in contrast to the predominantly non-autonomous mis-expression seen in the Ptc^B.2.13 clones, in Cos2^F.1.4 the upregulation of pMad is more balanced between autonomous (within the clone) and non-autonomous (adjacent to the clone) mis-expression (Figure 6 (c’–c”), mutant clones marked by Ci to visualize boundary expression). A line scan was used to visualize the pMad expression intensity. The high levels of pMad expression came from within the mutant clone and then remained high outside the clonal boundary (Figure 6d, clonal boundaries arrows). This indicates that while both Ptc and Cos2 mutant tissue lead to a non-autonomous increase of pMad, only Cos2 has an autonomous upregulation of pMad expression. The regions in which pMad overexpression is observed correlate to the nature of tissue overgrowth, non-autonomous, for Ptc^B.2.13 and both autonomous and non-autonomous for Cos2^F.1.4. The pattern of pMad expression was consistent across numerous clones for each mutant type and the patterns of Ptc and Cos2 deregulation of pMad expression are diagrammed in Supplemental Figure 5.

Discussion

Overview

We designed a genetic screen to identify negative regulators of cell growth and cell division that were conditional for a block in apoptosis. From this screen, we isolated and mapped a novel allele of Cos2, Cos2^F.1.4, as a conditional growth regulator from an EMS Flp/FRT mosaic eye screen. This finding builds upon previous data where we identified another member of the hedgehog signalling pathway, Ptc^B.2.13, in the same screen, providing confirmation that disruption in the hedgehog pathway can lead to conditional tissue overgrowth in Drosophila [8]. While both Ptc and Cos2 mutants result in dramatic eye and wing overgrowth due to the autonomous disruption of the Hh pathway, we observed that the nature of the overgrowth differs between Ptc and Cos2 mutants. Ptc mosaic tissue displays a distinct non-autonomous overgrowth, whereas Cos2 mosaic tissue results in both autonomous and non-autonomous overgrowth. These differences were consistent in both the eye and wing imaginal discs. Our data indicate that this difference may be due to the differential pattern of pMad deregulation. The upregulation of pMad has previously been demonstrated to drive tissue overgrowth [8,31], and the pattern of pMad deregulation in Ptc and Cos2 mosaic tissue directly matches the patterns of overgrowth.

While it remains a possibility that the differences may result from the specific nature of the mutation (null vs hypomorph etc.), we contend that these differences are based on the nature of the consequences of the mutated gene based on several pieces of data. 1. The non-autonomous difference between Ptc^B.2.13, Dark⁸² and Cos2^F.1.4, Dark⁸² is consistent across different types of tissue (eye and wing). 2. We find common disruption of the Hh pathway (through autonomous Ci and Ptc staining) and common non-autonomous survival (via DIAP1). 3. Both Ptc and Cos2 alleles were identified in independent screens looking for mutations that impacted cell survival and cell growth.

Association of cell survival and Hedgehog signalling

Our results suggest that a functional Hh signalling pathway is necessary for cell survival in imaginal disc development. Mutations to the Ptc and Cos2 members of the hedgehog pathway led to cell death. When apoptosis was blocked, Ptc and Cos2 mutants depicted dramatic overgrowth, which was rescued in both the eye and wing when the wild-type Dark allele was reintroduced, thus reinstating cell death.

This is further supported by the findings of the Bergman lab that identified multiple members of the Hh pathway in the GMR-Hid Flp/FRT screen [20,23,25]. This study also observed an autonomous increase in cell death when the Hh pathway is disrupted. The finding that this cell death is accompanied by a concurrent non-autonomous survival signal may be due to the compensatory proliferation resulting from the loss of Hh-dependent cell death [32]. This concurrent non-autonomous DIAP1 and proliferation increase could be a mechanism of tissue regeneration from which dying cells signal to their neighbours to proliferate. In our scenario, we have removed the ability of the Hh deficient cells to die through the canonical apoptotic pathway, therefore creating a constitutive non-autonomous survival and growth signalling leading to eye and wing overgrowth.

Ptc and Cos2 exhibit different patterns of pMad deregulation

Both Ptc and Cos2 mutations lead to an autonomous increase in hedgehog signalling (including Ci, and Ptc); however, there may be a difference in which type of cells can interpret the increased Hh target Dpp. Given that Dpp is a morphogen, both autonomous and non-autonomous cells would receive the Dpp signal via the receptors Thick Veins and Punt [33]. However, as we previously demonstrated, the Ptc^B.2.13 mutant clones also autonomously upregulated the inhibitory smad, Daughters Against Decapentaplegic (Dad) [8,34]. We hypothesize that a lack of Dad upregulation in the Cos2^F.1.4 mutant clones would result in an autonomous increase proliferation due to the Dpp mediated pMad activation (as seen in Figure 6). Alternatively, it is possible that a differential downregulation of Tkv downstream of the Hh signalling could lead to the differential activation of pMad between Ptc and Cos2 mutant clones [35]. In either scenario, the difference in autonomous pMad upregulation between Ptc and Cos2 mosaic tissue highlights the importance of understanding how disrupting different points of conserved pathways impacts tissue patterning and growth.

Potential implications for understanding Hh disrupted human tumours

A detailed understanding of the precise genetic mechanisms and pathways leading to deregulated growth in Hh mutations will be important in developing diagnostic and treatment tools to address Hh deregulated tumours in humans. Hedgehog pathway mutations are associated with various types of human cancers, including medulloblastoma; basal cell carcinoma; glioma; and breast, colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate cancer [16,36]. The loss of Ptc also increases the occurrence of these types of tumours in mice, providing additional models for study [37]. There is evidence of both Ptc and Kif7 (the human homolog of Cos2) being down-regulated in different human cancers, including basal cell carcinoma and ovarian cancer [38]. Fully understanding the phenotypic differences that arise from disruptions at different points in the Hh pathway may ultimately help with personalized medicine and treatment decisions for patients with Hh-deregulated tumours.

Funding Statement

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (2021146 to KLB and JDK) and the National Institutes of Health BUILD initiative ReBUILDetroit (UL1GM118982, TL4GM118983, and RL5GM118981 to JDK and SJN); National Institute of General Medical Sciences (GM103440 to RLT and KLB).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article [and/or] its supplementary materials.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here