@article{HerterStauchGallantetal.2015,
  author    = {Herter, Eva K. and Stauch, Maria and Gallant, Maria and Wolf, Elmar and Raabe, Thomas and Gallant, Peter},
  title     = {snoRNAs are a novel class of biologically relevant Myc targets},
  series = {BMC Biology},
  volume    = {13},
  journal   = {BMC Biology},
  number    = {25},
  doi       = {10.1186/s12915-015-0132-6},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-124956},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Background Myc proteins are essential regulators of animal growth during normal development, and their deregulation is one of the main driving factors of human malignancies. They function as transcription factors that (in vertebrates) control many growth- and proliferation-associated genes, and in some contexts contribute to global gene regulation. Results We combine chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIPseq) and RNAseq approaches in Drosophila tissue culture cells to identify a core set of less than 500 Myc target genes, whose salient function resides in the control of ribosome biogenesis. Among these genes we find the non-coding snoRNA genes as a large novel class of Myc targets. All assayed snoRNAs are affected by Myc, and many of them are subject to direct transcriptional activation by Myc, both in Drosophila and in vertebrates. The loss of snoRNAs impairs growth during normal development, whereas their overexpression increases tumor mass in a model for neuronal tumors. Conclusions This work shows that Myc acts as a master regulator of snoRNP biogenesis. In addition, in combination with recent observations of snoRNA involvement in human cancer, it raises the possibility that Myc's transforming effects are partially mediated by this class of non-coding transcripts.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{CateGajendraAlsburyetal.2016,
  author    = {Cate, Marie-Sophie and Gajendra, Sangeetha and Alsbury, Samantha and Raabe, Thomas and Tear, Guy and Mitchell, Kevin J.},
  title     = {Mushroom body defect is required in parallel to Netrin for midline axon guidance in Drosophila},
  series = {Development},
  volume    = {143},
  journal   = {Development},
  number    = {6},
  doi       = {10.1242/dev.129684},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-189770},
  pages     = {972-977},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {The outgrowth of many neurons within the central nervous system is initially directed towards or away from the cells lying at the midline. Recent genetic evidence suggests that a simple model of differential sensitivity to the conserved Netrin attractants and Slit repellents is insufficient to explain the guidance of all axons at the midline. In the Drosophila embryonic ventral nerve cord, many axons still cross the midline in the absence of the Netrin genes (NetA and NetB) or their receptor frazzled. Here we show that mutation of mushroom body defect (mud) dramatically enhances the phenotype of Netrin or frazzled mutants, resulting in many more axons failing to cross the midline, although mutations in mud alone have little effect. This suggests that mud, which encodes a microtubule-binding coiled-coil protein homologous to NuMA and LIN-5, is an essential component of a Netrin-independent pathway that acts in parallel to promote midline crossing. We demonstrate that this novel role of Mud in axon guidance is independent of its previously described role in neural precursor development. These studies identify a parallel pathway controlling midline guidance in Drosophila and highlight a novel role for Mud potentially acting downstream of Frizzled to aid axon guidance.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{Puetz2019,
  author    = {P{\"u}tz, Stephanie M.},
  title     = {Mbt/PAK4 together with SRC modulates N-Cadherin adherens junctions in the developing Drosophila eye},
  series = {Biology Open},
  volume    = {8},
  journal   = {Biology Open},
  doi       = {10.1242/bio.038406},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-200898},
  pages     = {bio038406},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Tissue morphogenesis is accompanied by changes of adherens junctions (AJ). During Drosophila eye development, AJ reorganization includes the formation of isolated N-Cadherin AJ between photoreceptors R3/R4. Little is known about how these N-Cadherin AJ are established and maintained. This study focuses on the kinases Mbt/PAK4 and SRC, both known to alter E-Cadherin AJ across phyla. Drosophila p21-activated kinase Mbt and the non-receptor tyrosine kinases Src64 and Src42 regulate proper N-Cadherin AJ. N-Cadherin AJ elongation depends on SRC kinase activity. Cell culture experiments demonstrate binding of both Drosophila SRC isoforms to N-Cadherin and its subsequent tyrosine phosphorylation. In contrast, Mbt stabilizes but does not bind N-Cadherin in vitro. Mbt is required in R3/R4 for zipping the N-Cadherin AJ between these cells, independent of its kinase activity and Cdc42-binding. The mbt phenotype can be reverted by mutations in Src64 and Src42. Because Mbt neither directly binds to SRC proteins nor has a reproducible influence on their kinase activity, the conclusion is that Mbt and SRC signaling converge on N-Cadherin. N-Cadherin AJ formation during eye development requires a proper balance between the promoting effects of Mbt and the inhibiting influences of SRC kinases.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BeckEhmannAndlaueretal.2015,
  author    = {Beck, Katherina and Ehmann, Nadine and Andlauer, Till F. M. and Ljaschenko, Dmitrij and Strecker, Katrin and Fischer, Matthias and Kittel, Robert J. and Raabe, Thomas},
  title     = {Loss of the Coffin-Lowry syndrome-associated gene RSK2 alters ERK activity, synaptic function and axonal transport in Drosophila motoneurons},
  series = {Disease Models \& Mechanisms},
  volume    = {8},
  journal   = {Disease Models \& Mechanisms},
  doi       = {10.1242/dmm.021246},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-145185},
  pages     = {1389-1400},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Plastic changes in synaptic properties are considered as fundamental for adaptive behaviors. Extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-mediated signaling has been implicated in regulation of synaptic plasticity. Ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (RSK2) acts as a regulator and downstream effector of ERK. In the brain, RSK2 is predominantly expressed in regions required for learning and memory. Loss-of-function mutations in human RSK2 cause Coffin-Lowry syndrome, which is characterized by severe mental retardation and low IQ scores in affected males. Knockout of RSK2 in mice or the RSK ortholog in Drosophila results in a variety of learning and memory defects. However, overall brain structure in these animals is not affected, leaving open the question of the pathophysiological consequences. Using the fly neuromuscular system as a model for excitatory glutamatergic synapses, we show that removal of RSK function causes distinct defects in motoneurons and at the neuromuscular junction. Based on histochemical and electrophysiological analyses, we conclude that RSK is required for normal synaptic morphology and function. Furthermore, loss of RSK function interferes with ERK signaling at different levels. Elevated ERK activity was evident in the somata of motoneurons, whereas decreased ERK activity was observed in axons and the presynapse. In addition, we uncovered a novel function of RSK in anterograde axonal transport. Our results emphasize the importance of fine-tuning ERK activity in neuronal processes underlying higher brain functions. In this context, RSK acts as a modulator of ERK signaling.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{PuetzKramRauhetal.2021,
  author    = {P{\"u}tz, Stephanie M. and Kram, Jette and Rauh, Elisa and Kaiser, Sophie and Toews, Romy and Lueningschroer-Wang, Yi and Rieger, Dirk and Raabe, Thomas},
  title     = {Loss of p21-activated kinase Mbt/PAK4 causes Parkinson-like symptoms in Drosophila},
  series = {Disease Models \& Mechanisms},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {Disease Models \& Mechanisms},
  number    = {6},
  doi       = {10.1242/dmm.047811},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-259222},
  pages     = {dmm047811},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Parkinson's disease (PD) provokes bradykinesia, resting tremor, rigidity and postural instability, and also non-motor symptoms such as depression, anxiety, sleep and cognitive impairments. Similar phenotypes can be induced in Drosophila melanogaster through modification of PD-relevant genes or the administration of PD inducing toxins. Recent studies correlated deregulation of human p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) with PD, leaving open the question of a causative relationship of mutations in this gene for manifestation of PD symptoms. To determine whether flies lacking the PAK4 homolog Mushroom bodies tiny (Mbt) show PD-like phenotypes, we tested for a variety of PD criteria. Here, we demonstrate that mbt mutant flies show PD-like phenotypes including age-dependent movement deficits, reduced life expectancy and fragmented sleep. They also react to a stressful situation with higher immobility, indicating an influence of Mbt on emotional behavior. Loss of Mbt function has a negative effect on the number of dopaminergic protocerebral anterior medial (PAM) neurons, most likely caused by a proliferation defect of neural progenitors. The age-dependent movement deficits are not accompanied by a corresponding further loss of PAM neurons. Previous studies highlighted the importance of a small PAM subgroup for age-dependent PD motor impairments. We show that impaired motor skills are caused by a lack of Mbt in this PAM subgroup. In addition, a broader re-expression of Mbt in PAM neurons improves life expectancy. Conversely, selective Mbt knockout in the same cells shortens lifespan. We conclude that mutations in Mbt/PAK4 can play a causative role in the development of PD phenotypes.},
  language  = {en}
}