Categorization of Fly Genes (Synthesis of Information of Wts in Drosophila)

open_access
Open Access
Author:
Luu, Ivana
Area of Honors:
Biology
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Zhi-Chun Lai, Thesis Supervisor
Gabriele Brigitte Monshausen, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Drosophilia
Hippo Pathway signaling
WTS
TRC
LATS1/2
Genetics
Cancer research
Abstract:
Recent studies have found that the Hippo pathway is involved in a diverse set of physiological and pathological processes beyond developmental size control, including cell fate determination, stem cell regulation, regeneration, immunity, and cancer. This review aims to provide an updated overview of the Hippo signaling network in both normal and disease physiology, with a focus on recent advances in Drosophila and mammals. The purpose of this paper is to identify and categorize genes into groups such as DNA-binding proteins, secreted proteins, kinases, and others, and to understand their binding partners, gene interactions, sequences, protein types, clinical correlations, and the evolutionary similarities observed between Drosophila and humans.  FlyBase was the primary database used to identify genes in the Hippo signaling pathway in Drosophila and to categorize them accordingly. The paper focuses on the Wts gene, which encodes a serine/threonine protein kinase and acts as part of the Salvador/Warts/Hippo (SWH) pathway to phosphorylate the transcriptional co-activator Yorkie (Yki), leading to tumor suppression and regulation of cell growth, division, and apoptosis. A human homolog, LATS1 and LATS2 (Large Tumor Suppressor 1/2), has also been identified, which suggests similar functions in mammalian cells to those of the Wts gene in Drosophila.  Based on the information from FlyBase, the Wts gene interacts with 31 different protein-coding genes, including a carboxylase (Acc), a lipase (Bmm), 6 kinases, and 5 co-activator proteins.  By identifying Wts-binding partners and classifying them based on their molecular and cellular functions, this analysis may contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms that regulate Wts and its role in controlling cell growth. Additionally, it may provide insight into its relevance in human cancer genetics, particularly in processes such as cell proliferation, growth inhibition, and apoptosis.