Nature：新发现29个基因参与Notch信号通路

　　

生物通报道，澳大利亚国立科学院分子生物技术研究所，分子病理学研究所等处的研究人员在最新一期的Nature杂志上发表Notch信号的研究进展，文章标题为：Genome-wide analysis of Notch signalling in Drosophila by transgenic RNAi。

 

全基因组RNAi扫描方式鉴定了几乎参与果蝇每个分子进程的基因运作方式。目前，这一方法还没有用于检测复杂的组织发育模式。在本研究中，研究小组构建了一个RNAi文库，研究果蝇外部感官器官发育的Notch信号通路。

 

Notch基因最早发现于果蝇，部分功能缺失导致翅缘缺刻。Notch信号通路是进化中高度保守的信号转导通路, 其调控细胞增殖、 分化和凋亡的功能涉及几乎所有组织和器官。在无脊椎动物和脊椎动物发育过程中,Notch信号对细胞的命运决定起关键作用.通过Notch受体的信号传递能够扩大并固化相邻细胞之间的分子差异,最终决定细胞的命运

 

研究者发现与Notch相互作用的基因可以采用一种具有组织特异性的方式使其失去活性。这样所获得的数据，使得研究人员有可能将一些假设存在的功能分配给果蝇基因中大约20%的蛋白编码基因，并且发现了参与非对称细胞分裂的6个新基因及调控Notch信号通道的23个新基因。

（生物通  小茜）

生物通推荐原文检索：Genome-wide analysis of Notch signalling in Drosophila by transgenic RNAi

【Abstract】

Genome-wide RNA interference (RNAi) screens have identified near-complete sets of genes involved in cellular processes. However, this methodology has not yet been used to study complex developmental processes in a tissue-specific manner. Here we report the use of a library of Drosophila strains expressing inducible hairpin RNAi constructs to study the Notch signalling pathway during external sensory organ development. We assigned putative loss-of-function phenotypes to 21.2% of the protein-coding Drosophila genes. Using secondary assays, we identified 6 new genes involved in asymmetric cell division and 23 novel genes regulating the Notch signalling pathway. By integrating our phenotypic results with protein interaction data, we constructed a genome-wide, functionally validated interaction network governing Notch signalling and asymmetric cell division. We used clustering algorithms to identify nuclear import pathways and the COP9 signallosome as Notch regulators. Our results show that complex developmental processes can be analysed on a genome-wide level and provide a unique resource for functional annotation of the Drosophila genome.