Spen modulates lipid droplet content in adult Drosophila glial cells and protects against paraquat toxicity.

Glial cells are early sensors of neuronal injury and can store lipids in lipid droplets under oxidative stress conditions. Here, we investigated the functions of the RNA-binding protein, SPEN/SHARP, in the context of Parkinson's disease (PD). Using a data-mining approach, we found that SPEN/SHARP is one of many astrocyte-expressed genes that are significantly differentially expressed in the substantia nigra of PD patients compared with control subjects.

Expression of dengue virus NS3 protein in Drosophila alters its susceptibility to infection.

We developed a Drosophila model in which the dengue virus NS3 protein is expressed in a tissue specific and inducible manner. Dengue virus NS3 is a multifunctional protein playing a major role during viral replication. Both protease and helicase domains of NS3 are interacting with human and insect host proteins including innate immune components of the host machinery.

Spen is required for pigment cell survival during pupal development in Drosophila.

Apoptosis is required during development to eliminate superfluous cells and sculpt tissues; spatial and timed control of apoptosis ensures that the necessary number of cells is eliminated at a precise time in a given tissue. The elimination of supernumerary pigment or inter-ommatidial cells (IOCs) depends on cell-cell communication and is necessary for the formation of the honeycomb-like structure of the Drosophila eye. However, the mechanisms occurring during pupal development and controlling apoptosis of superfluous IOC in space and time remain unclear.

Cholesterol-free and cholesterol-bound Hedgehog: Two sparring-partners working hand in hand in the Drosophila wing disc?

Hedgehog (Hh) is a signaling ligand conserved from flies to humans that is covalently bound to both palmitate and cholesterol moieties. These lipid modifications are crucial for Hh signaling. A recent article reports that in both flies and human-cultured cells a cholesterol-free form of Hh (SHh-N*/Hh-N*) is produced and secreted.

The dynamics of replication licensing in live Caenorhabditis elegans embryos.

Accurate DNA replication requires proper regulation of replication licensing, which entails loading MCM-2-7 onto replication origins. In this paper, we provide the first comprehensive view of replication licensing in vivo, using video microscopy of Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. As expected, MCM-2-7 loading in late M phase depended on the prereplicative complex (pre-RC) proteins: origin recognition complex (ORC), CDC-6, and CDT-1.