Deregulation of the Egfr/Ras Signaling Pathway Induces Age-related Brain Degeneration in the<i>Drosophila</i>Mutant<i>vap</i>
Loading...
Embargo End Date
ICR Authors
Authors
Botella, JA
Kretzschmar, D
Kiermayer, C
Feldmann, P
Hughes, DA
Schneuwly, S
Kretzschmar, D
Kiermayer, C
Feldmann, P
Hughes, DA
Schneuwly, S
Document Type
Journal Article
Date
2003-01-01
Date Accepted
Abstract
<jats:p>Ras signaling has been shown to play an important role in promoting cell survival in many different tissues. Here we show that upregulation of Ras activity in adult Drosophila neurons induces neuronal cell death, as evident from the phenotype of vacuolar peduncle (vap) mutants defective in theDrosophila RasGAP gene, which encodes a Ras GTPase-activating protein. These mutants show age-related brain degeneration that is dependent on activation of the EGF receptor signaling pathway in adult neurons, leading to autophagic cell death (cell death type 2). These results provide the first evidence for a requirement of Egf receptor activity in differentiated adultDrosophila neurons and show that a delicate balance of Ras activity is essential for the survival of adult neurons.</jats:p>
Citation
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL, 2003, 14 pp. 241 - 250
Source Title
Publisher
American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB)
ISSN
1059-1524