Polarity determination in the Drosophila eye: a novel role for Unpaired and JAK/STAT signaling

  1. Martin P. Zeidler,
  2. Norbert Perrimon, and
  3. David I. Strutt
  1. Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115 USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Developmental Genetics Programme, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK

Abstract

The JAK/STAT signaling pathway is required for many processes including cytokine signaling, hematopoiesis, gliagenesis, andDrosophila segmentation. In this report we present evidence demonstrating that the JAK/STAT pathway is also central to the establishment of planar polarity during Drosophila eye development. We show that a localized source of the pathway ligand, Unpaired, is present at the midline of the developing eye, which is capable of activating the JAK/STAT pathway over long distances. A gradient of JAK/STAT activity across the DV axis of the eye regulates ommatidial polarity via an unidentified second signal. Additionally, localized Unpaired influences the position of the equator via repression of mirror.

Keywords

Footnotes

  • Corresponding author.

  • E-MAIL d.strutt{at}sheffield.ac.uk; FAX 44-114-222-2788.

    • Received February 12, 1999.
    • Accepted April 13, 1999.
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