Gilbert M Melissa, Weaver Brian K, Gergen J Peter, Reich Nancy C
Graduate Program in Genetics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5222, USA.
Mech Dev. 2005 Jul;122(7-8):939-48. doi: 10.1016/j.mod.2005.03.004.
Striking similarities continue to emerge between the mammalian and Drosophila JAK/STAT signaling pathway. However, until now there has not been the ability to monitor global pathway activity during development. We have generated a transgenic animal with a JAK/STAT responsive reporter gene that can be used to monitor pathway activation in whole Drosophila embryos. Expression of the lacZ reporter regulated by STAT92E binding sites can be detected throughout embryogenesis, and is responsive to the Janus Kinase hopscotch and the ligand upd. The system has enabled us to identify the effect of a predicted gene related to upd, designated upd2, whose expression initiates during germ band extension. The stimulatory effect of upd2 on the JAK/STAT reporter can also be demonstrated in Drosophila tissue culture cells. This reporter system will benefit future investigations of JAK/STAT signaling modulators both in whole animals and tissue culture.
哺乳动物和果蝇的JAK/STAT信号通路之间不断涌现出惊人的相似之处。然而，到目前为止，还无法在发育过程中监测整个信号通路的活性。我们构建了一种带有JAK/STAT反应性报告基因的转基因动物，可用于监测整个果蝇胚胎中的信号通路激活情况。由STAT92E结合位点调控的lacZ报告基因的表达在整个胚胎发育过程中均可检测到，并且对Janus激酶“跳房子”（hopscotch）和配体upd有反应。该系统使我们能够确定一个与upd相关的预测基因upd2的作用，其表达在胚带延伸期间开始。upd2对JAK/STAT报告基因的刺激作用也可以在果蝇组织培养细胞中得到证明。这个报告系统将有利于未来在整体动物和组织培养中对JAK/STAT信号调节剂的研究。
