The histone demethylase Kdm5 controls Hid-induced cell death in .

We conducted an EMS mutagenesis screen on chromosome arm 2L to identify recessive suppressors of -induced apoptosis in the eye. Through this screen, we recovered three alleles of the lysine demethylase gene . Kdm5, a member of the JmjC-domain-containing protein family, possesses histone demethylase activity towards H3K4me3. Our data suggest that Kdm5 specifically regulates Hid-induced cell death during development, as we did not observe control of Reaper- or Grim-induced cell death by . Interestingly, -induced apoptosis is suppressed independently of Kdm5's demethylase activity. Our findings indicate that Rbf and dMyc are necessary for mosaics to suppress -induced cell death. Moreover, mosaics failed to suppress apoptosis induced by a mutant form of Hid that is resistant to inhibition by Erk-type MAPK activity. Additionally, dominantly enhances the wing phenotype of an activated MAPK mutant. These results collectively suggest that Kdm5 controls Hid-induced apoptosis by regulating the Rbf, dMyc, and MAPK pathways.