Biomedical subjects

Norbert Perrimon

Publications and source records attributed to Norbert Perrimon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Intersecting experimental evolution and CRISPR screens to identify novel toxin resistance loci.

Understanding toxin resistance in insects is key to appreciating niche adaptations but remains challenging due to its often-polygenic basis. A well-known example is the specialized association of Drosophila sechellia with noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia), which is toxic to other insects, including Drosophila simulans and Drosophila melanogaster. The main noni toxin is octanoic acid (OA), but the mechanisms that determine sensitivity or resistance to OA in different species remain unclear. Here, we experimentally evolved D. simulans with increased OA resistance, identifying multiple loci under selection. Cross-referencing these with a genome-wide, OA resistance CRISPR screen in a D. melanogaster cell line highlighted two proteins: Kraken, a putative detoxification enzyme expressed in digestive and renal tissues, and Alkbh7, a mitochondrial protein linked to fatty acid metabolism. Both genes show elevated expression in D. sechellia and OA-resistant D. simulans. In D. melanogaster, kraken mutants are more OA-sensitive, while Alkbh7 overexpression increased OA resistance. Mutation of these genes in D. sechellia reduced OA tolerance. Our identification of genes contributing to OA resistance in laboratory and natural contexts demonstrates how complementary selection approaches can provide insights into complex mechanisms of toxin susceptibility and adaptation. Such methods could have practical applications in the characterization of natural and artificial insecticides.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Intersecting experimental evolution and CRISPR screens to identify novel toxin resistance loci.

Understanding toxin resistance in insects is key to appreciate niche adaptations but remains challenging due to its often-polygenic basis. A well-known example is the specialized association of Drosophila sechellia with noni fruit ( Morinda citrifolia ), which is toxic to most other insects, including the closely-related Drosophila simulans and Drosophila melanogaster . Toxicity of noni is due to its high concentration of octanoic acid (OA), but the mechanisms that determine sensitivity or resistance to OA in different species remain poorly understood. Here, we experimentally-evolved D. simulans with increased OA resistance, identifying multiple loci under selection. Cross-referencing these with a genome-wide, OA-resistance CRISPR screen in a D. melanogaster cell line highlighted two proteins: Kraken, a putative detoxification enzyme expressed in digestive and renal tissues, and Alkbh7, a mitochondrial protein linked to fatty acid metabolism. Both genes show elevated expression in D. sechellia and OA-resistant D. simulans . In D. melanogaster , kraken mutants are more OA-sensitive, while Alkbh7 overexpression increased OA resistance. Importantly, mutation of these genes in D. sechellia reduced OA tolerance. Our identification of genes underlying OA resistance in laboratory and natural contexts demonstrates how complementary, cross-species selection approaches can provide insights into complex mechanisms of toxin susceptibility and adaptation; such methods could also have practical applications in the characterization of natural and artificial insecticides.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2025

ScGOclust: leveraging gene ontology to find functionally analogous cell types between distant species.

MOTIVATION: Basic biological processes are shared across animal species, yet their cellular mechanisms are profoundly diverse. Comparing cell-type gene expression between species reveals conserved and divergent cellular functions. However, as phylogenetic distance increases, gene-based comparisons become less informative. The gene ontology (GO) knowledgebase offers a solution by serving as the most comprehensive resource of gene functions across a vast diversity of species, providing a bridge for distant species comparisons. RESULTS: Here, we present scGOclust, a computational tool that constructs de novo cellular functional profiles using GO terms, facilitating systematic and robust comparisons within and across species. We applied scGOclust to analyse and compare the heart, gut, and kidney between mouse and fly, and whole-body data from Caenorhabditis elegans and Hydra vulgaris. We show that scGOclust effectively recapitulates the function spectrum of different cell types, characterizes functional similarities between homologous cell types, and reveals functional convergence between unrelated cell types. Additionally, we identified subpopulations within the fly crop that show circadian rhythm-regulated secretory properties and hypothesize an analogy between fly principal cells from different segments and distinct mouse kidney tubules. We envision scGOclust as an effective tool for uncovering functionally analogous cell types or organs across distant species, offering fresh perspectives on evolutionary and functional biology. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: ScGOclust is publicly available on CRAN: https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/scGOclust/index.html and development versions are available on GitHub: github.com/Papatheodorou-Group/scGOclust/.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

A functional RNAi screen for regulators of receptor tyrosine kinase and ERK signalling.

Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signalling through extracellular-signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) has pivotal roles during metazoan development, underlying processes as diverse as fate determination, differentiation, proliferation, survival, migration and growth. Abnormal RTK/ERK signalling has been extensively documented to contribute to developmental disorders and disease, most notably in oncogenic transformation by mutant RTKs or downstream pathway components such as Ras and Raf. Although the core RTK/ERK signalling cassette has been characterized by decades of research using mammalian cell culture and forward genetic screens in model organisms, signal propagation through this pathway is probably regulated by a larger network of moderate, context-specific proteins. The genes encoding these proteins may not have been discovered through traditional screens owing, in particular, to the requirement for visible phenotypes. To obtain a global view of RTK/ERK signalling, we performed an unbiased, RNA interference (RNAi), genome-wide, high-throughput screen in Drosophila cells using a novel, quantitative, cellular assay monitoring ERK activation. Here we show that ERK pathway output integrates a wide array of conserved cellular processes. Further analysis of selected components-in multiple cell types with different RTK ligands and oncogenic stimuli-validates and classifies 331 pathway regulators. The relevance of these genes is highlighted by our isolation of a Ste20-like kinase and a PPM-family phosphatase that seem to regulate RTK/ERK signalling in vivo and in mammalian cells. Novel regulators that modulate specific pathway outputs may be selective targets for drug discovery.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Drug-target identification in Drosophila cells: combining high-throughout RNAi and small-molecule screens.

RNA interference (RNAi) and small-molecule approaches are synergistic on multiple levels, from technology and high-throughput screen development to target identification and functional studies. Here, we describe the RNAi screening platform that we have established and made available to the community through the Drosophila RNAi Screening Center at Harvard Medical School. We then illustrate how the combination of RNAi and small-molecule HTS can lead to effective identification of targets in drug discovery.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

GFP reporters detect the activation of the Drosophila JAK/STAT pathway in vivo.

JAK/STAT signaling is essential for a wide range of developmental processes in Drosophila melanogaster. The mechanism by which the JAK/STAT pathway contributes to these processes has been the subject of recent investigation. However, a reporter that reflects activity of the JAK/STAT pathway in all Drosophila tissues has not yet been developed. By placing a fragment of the Stat92E target gene Socs36E, which contains at least two putative Stat92E binding sites, upstream of GFP, we generated three constructs that can be used to monitor JAK/STAT pathway activity in vivo. These constructs differ by the number of Stat92E binding sites and the stability of GFP. The 2XSTAT92E-GFP and 10XSTAT92E-GFP constructs contain 2 and 10 Stat92E binding sites, respectively, driving expression of enhanced GFP, while 10XSTAT92E-DGFP drives expression of destabilized GFP. We show that these reporters are expressed in the embryo in an overlapping pattern with Stat92E protein and in tissues where JAK/STAT signaling is required. In addition, these reporters accurately reflect JAK/STAT pathway activity at larval stages, as their expression pattern overlaps that of the activating ligand unpaired in imaginal discs. Moreover, the STAT92E-GFP reporters are activated by ectopic JAK/STAT signaling. STAT92E-GFP fluorescence is increased in response to ectopic upd in the larval eye disc and mis-expression of the JAK kinase hopscotch in the adult fat body. Lastly, these reporters are specifically activated by Stat92E, as STAT92E-GFP reporter expression is lost cell-autonomously in stat92E homozygous mutant tissue. In sum, we have generated in vivo GFP reporters that accurately reflect JAK/STAT pathway activation in a variety of tissues. These reporters are valuable tools to further investigate and understand the role of JAK/STAT signaling in Drosophila.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

The emergence of geometric order in proliferating metazoan epithelia.

The predominantly hexagonal cell pattern of simple epithelia was noted in the earliest microscopic analyses of animal tissues, a topology commonly thought to reflect cell sorting into optimally packed honeycomb arrays. Here we use a discrete Markov model validated by time-lapse microscopy and clonal analysis to demonstrate that the distribution of polygonal cell types in epithelia is not a result of cell packing, but rather a direct mathematical consequence of cell proliferation. On the basis of in vivo analysis of mitotic cell junction dynamics in Drosophila imaginal discs, we mathematically predict the convergence of epithelial topology to a fixed equilibrium distribution of cellular polygons. This distribution is empirically confirmed in tissue samples from vertebrate, arthropod and cnidarian organisms, suggesting that a similar proliferation-dependent cell pattern underlies pattern formation and morphogenesis throughout the metazoa.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Weckle is a zinc finger adaptor of the toll pathway in dorsoventral patterning of the Drosophila embryo.

BACKGROUND: The Drosophila Toll pathway takes part in both establishment of the embryonic dorsoventral axis and induction of the innate immune response in adults. Upon activation by the cytokine Spätzle, Toll interacts with the adaptor proteins DmMyD88 and Tube and the kinase Pelle and triggers degradation of the inhibitor Cactus, thus allowing the nuclear translocation of the transcription factor Dorsal/Dif. weckle (wek) was previously identified as a new dorsal group gene that encodes a putative zinc finger transcription factor. However, its role in the Toll pathway was unknown. RESULTS: Here, we isolated new wek alleles and demonstrated that cactus is epistatic to wek, which in turn is epistatic to Toll. Consistent with this, Wek localizes to the plasma membrane of embryos, independently of Toll signaling. Wek homodimerizes and associates with Toll. Moreover, Wek binds to and localizes DmMyD88 to the plasma membrane. Thus, Wek acts as an adaptor to assemble/stabilize a Toll/Wek/DmMyD88/Tube complex. Remarkably, unlike the DmMyD88/tube/pelle/cactus gene cassette of the Toll pathway, wek plays a minimal role, if any, in the immune defense against Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that Wek is an adaptor to link Toll and DmMyD88 and is required for efficient recruitment of DmMyD88 to Toll. Unexpectedly, wek is dispensable for innate immune response, thus revealing differences in the Toll-mediated activation of Dorsal in the embryo and Dif in the fat body of adult flies.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2006

Functional genomics reveals genes involved in protein secretion and Golgi organization.

Yeast genetics and in vitro biochemical analysis have identified numerous genes involved in protein secretion. As compared with yeast, however, the metazoan secretory pathway is more complex and many mechanisms that regulate organization of the Golgi apparatus remain poorly characterized. We performed a genome-wide RNA-mediated interference screen in a Drosophila cell line to identify genes required for constitutive protein secretion. We then classified the genes on the basis of the effect of their depletion on organization of the Golgi membranes. Here we show that depletion of class A genes redistributes Golgi membranes into the endoplasmic reticulum, depletion of class B genes leads to Golgi fragmentation, depletion of class C genes leads to aggregation of Golgi membranes, and depletion of class D genes causes no obvious change. Of the 20 new gene products characterized so far, several localize to the Golgi membranes and the endoplasmic reticulum.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

FlyRNAi: the Drosophila RNAi screening center database.

RNA interference (RNAi) has become a powerful tool for genetic screening in Drosophila. At the Drosophila RNAi Screening Center (DRSC), we are using a library of over 21,000 double-stranded RNAs targeting known and predicted genes in Drosophila. This library is available for the use of visiting scientists wishing to perform full-genome RNAi screens. The data generated from these screens are collected in the DRSC database (http://flyRNAi.org/cgi-bin/RNAi_screens.pl) in a flexible format for the convenience of the scientist and for archiving data. The long-term goal of this database is to provide annotations for as many of the uncharacterized genes in Drosophila as possible. Data from published screens are available to the public through a highly configurable interface that allows detailed examination of the data and provides access to a number of other databases and bioinformatics tools.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

High-throughput approaches to dissecting MAPK signaling pathways.

With the development of genome-wide RNAi libraries, it is now possible to screen for novel components of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in cell culture. Although genetic dissection in model organisms and biochemical approaches in mammalian cells have been successful in identifying the core signaling cassettes of these pathways, high-throughput assays can yield unbiased, functional genomic insight into pathway regulation. We describe general high-throughput approaches to assaying MAPK signaling and the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in particular using a phospho-specific antibody-based readout of pathway activity. We also provide examples of secondary validation screens and methods for managing large datasets for future in vivo functional characterization.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Minimizing the risk of reporting false positives in large-scale RNAi screens.

Large-scale RNA interference (RNAi)-based analyses, very much as other 'omic' approaches, have inherent rates of false positives and negatives. The variability in the standards of care applied to validate results from these studies, if left unchecked, could eventually begin to undermine the credibility of RNAi as a powerful functional approach. This Commentary is an invitation to an open discussion started among various users of RNAi to set forth accepted standards that would insure the quality and accuracy of information in the large datasets coming out of genome-scale screens.

Databases, Genetic↗

PubMed2006

Evidence of off-target effects associated with long dsRNAs in Drosophila melanogaster cell-based assays.

To evaluate the specificity of long dsRNAs used in high-throughput RNA interference (RNAi) screens performed at the Drosophila RNAi Screening Center (DRSC), we performed a global analysis of their activity in 30 genome-wide screens completed at our facility. Notably, our analysis predicts that dsRNAs containing > or = 19-nucleotide perfect matches identified in silico to unintended targets may contribute to a significant false positive error rate arising from off-target effects. We confirmed experimentally that such sequences in dsRNAs lead to false positives and to efficient knockdown of a cross-hybridizing transcript, raising a cautionary note about interpreting results based on the use of a single dsRNA per gene. Although a full appreciation of all causes of false positive errors remains to be determined, we suggest simple guidelines to help ensure high-quality information from RNAi high-throughput screens.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

High-throughput RNAi screening in cultured cells: a user's guide.

RNA interference has re-energized the field of functional genomics by enabling genome-scale loss-of-function screens in cultured cells. Looking back on the lessons that have been learned from the first wave of technology developments and applications in this exciting field, we provide both a user's guide for newcomers to the field and a detailed examination of some more complex issues, particularly concerning optimization and quality control, for more advanced users. From a discussion of cell lines, screening paradigms, reagent types and read-out methodologies, we explore in particular the complexities of designing optimal controls and normalization strategies for these challenging but extremely powerful studies.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

COPI activity coupled with fatty acid biosynthesis is required for viral replication.

During infection by diverse viral families, RNA replication occurs on the surface of virally induced cytoplasmic membranes of cellular origin. How this process is regulated, and which cellular factors are required, has been unclear. Moreover, the host-pathogen interactions that facilitate the formation of this new compartment might represent critical determinants of viral pathogenesis, and their elucidation may lead to novel insights into the coordination of vesicular trafficking events during infection. Here we show that in Drosophila cells, Drosophila C virus remodels the Golgi apparatus and forms a novel vesicular compartment, on the surface of which viral RNA replication takes place. Using genome-wide RNA interference screening, we found that this step in the viral lifecycle requires at least two host encoded pathways: the coat protein complex I (COPI) coatamer and fatty acid biosynthesis. Our results integrate, clarify, and extend numerous observations concerning the cell biology of viral replication, allowing us to conclude that the coupling of new cellular membrane formation with the budding of these vesicles from the Golgi apparatus allows for the regulated generation of this new virogenic organelle, which is essential for viral replication. Additionally, because these pathways are also limiting in flies and in human cells infected with the related RNA virus poliovirus, they may represent novel targets for antiviral therapies.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Evidence that stem cells reside in the adult Drosophila midgut epithelium.

Adult stem cells maintain organ systems throughout the course of life and facilitate repair after injury or disease. A fundamental property of stem and progenitor cell division is the capacity to retain a proliferative state or generate differentiated daughter cells; however, little is currently known about signals that regulate the balance between these processes. Here, we characterize a proliferating cellular compartment in the adult Drosophila midgut. Using genetic mosaic analysis we demonstrate that differentiated cells in the epithelium arise from a common lineage. Furthermore, we show that reduction of Notch signalling leads to an increase in the number of midgut progenitor cells, whereas activation of the Notch pathway leads to a decrease in proliferation. Thus, the midgut progenitor's default state is proliferation, which is inhibited through the Notch signalling pathway. The ability to identify, manipulate and genetically trace cell lineages in the midgut should lead to the discovery of additional genes that regulate stem and progenitor cell biology in the gastrointestinal tract.

Aging↗

PubMed2005

A genome-wide RNA interference screen in Drosophila melanogaster cells for new components of the Hh signaling pathway.

Members of the Hedgehog (Hh) family of signaling proteins are powerful regulators of developmental processes in many organisms and have been implicated in many human disease states. Here we report the results of a genome-wide RNA interference screen in Drosophila melanogaster cells for new components of the Hh signaling pathway. The screen identified hundreds of potential new regulators of Hh signaling, including many large protein complexes with pleiotropic effects, such as the coat protein complex I (COPI) complex, the ribosome and the proteasome. We identified the multimeric protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and two new kinases, the D. melanogaster orthologs of the vertebrate PITSLRE and cyclin-dependent kinase-9 (CDK9) kinases, as Hh regulators. We also identified a large group of constitutive and alternative splicing factors, two nucleoporins involved in mRNA export and several RNA-regulatory proteins as potent regulators of Hh signal transduction, indicating that splicing regulation and mRNA transport have a previously unrecognized role in Hh signaling. Finally, we showed that several of these genes have conserved roles in mammalian Hh signaling.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Mutational analysis reveals separable DNA binding and trans-activation of Drosophila STAT92E.

In the canonical model of JAK/STAT signalling STAT transcription factors are activated by JAK mediated tyrosine phosphorylation following pathway stimulation by external cytokines. Activated STAT molecules then homo- or heterodimerise before translocating to the nucleus where they bind to DNA sequences within the promoters of pathway target genes. DNA-bound STAT dimers then activate transcription of their targets via interaction with components of the basal transcription machinery. Here we describe a missense mutation in the SH2 domain of the single Drosophila STAT92E homologue which results in an amino-acid substitution conserved in both the canonical SH2 domain and STAT-like molecules previously identified in C. elegans and the mosquito Anopheles gambiae. This mutation leads to nuclear accumulation and constitutive DNA binding of Drosophila STAT92E even in the absence of JAK stimulation. Strikingly, this mutant shows only limited transcriptional activity in tissue culture based assays and functions as a dominant-negative at both the phenotypic and molecular levels in vivo. These features represent aspects of both dominant gain-of-function and dominant-negative activities and imply that the functions of DNA binding can be functionally separated from the role of STAT92E as a transcriptional activator. It is thus possible that an alternative post-translational modification, in addition to tyrosine phosphorylation, may be required to allow STAT to act as a transcriptional activator and suggests the existence of an alternative mechanism by which STAT transcriptional activity may be regulated in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗