baz - bazooka Pinal, N., Hong, Y., Benton, R., Harris, T.J., Cox, D.N., Petronczki, M.

, Pinheiro, E.M., Hong, Y., Vaccari, T., Izumi, Y., Schaefer, M., Wodarz, A., Benton, R., Sotillos, S., von Stein, W., Roegiers, F., Harris, T.J., Zallen, J.A., Wodarz, A. l High impact information on baz

Thus, antagonism of Bazooka by PAR-1 [1]. In epithelia, this complex localizes apically and defines the apical membrane, whereas Bazooka lacking PAR-1 phosphorylation/14-3-3 binding sites [1]. Initially discovered in the landmark genetic screen for Drosophila developmental mutants, bazooka, crumbs, shotgun and stardust [2]. However, for the subset of ectodermal cells that delaminate and form neuroblasts, their polarity requires the function of Bazooka, but not of Stardust or Crumbs [2]. Bazooka provides an apical cue for Inscuteable [3]. l Biological context of baz Thus, proteins required for establishing the early embryonic epithelial polarity are used later for the morphogenesis of photoreceptors, with Baz [4]. Requirement for Par-6 and Bazooka in Drosophila border cell migration [5]. The distributions of several transmembrane proteins required for migration were abnormal following Par-6 or Par-3/Bazooka downregulation [5]. The Drosophila protein Bazooka is required for both apical-basal polarity in epithelial cells and directing asymmetric cell division [6]. In Drosophila, the multi-PDZ domain protein Bazooka (Baz) is required for establishment of apico-basal polarity in epithelia and in neuroblasts, the stem cells of the central nervous system [7]. l Anatomical context of baz

In light of this functional conservation, we examined the potential role of baz and DaPKC in the regulation of oocyte [8]. Our analyses reveal germ-line autonomous roles for baz and DaPKC in the establishment of initial anterior-posterior polarity within germ-line cysts and maintenance of oocyte [8]. Both in Drosophila and vertebrate epithelial cells, the establishment of apicobasal polarity requires the apically localized, membrane-associated Par-3-Par-6-aPKC [9]. Adherens junctions (AJs) often direct this polarity, but we previously found that Bazooka (Baz [10]. Surprisingly, we found that Baz localizes to an apical domain below its typical binding partners atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) and partitioning defective (PAR)-6 as the Drosophila epithelium [10]. l Associations of baz with chemical compounds

We show that baz is required for Par-1 relocalization within the oocyte and that the distributions of Baz and Par-1 in the Drosophila oocyte [11]. l Physical interactions of baz

The PAR-3/PAR-6/aPKC complex is required to establish polarity in many different cell types, including the C. elegans zygote [12]. Mutant analyses revealed that apical Baz accumulations can be established in the absence of AJs, whereas assembly of apical DE-Cad complexes requires Baz [13]. We show that the lipid phosphatase PTEN directly binds to Baz in vitro and in vivo, and colocalizes with Baz [14]. Asymmetric localisation of Inscuteable is initiated during neuroblast delamination by direct binding to Bazooka [15]. l Co-localisations of baz

DmPAR-6 colocalizes with Bazooka at the apical cell cortex of epithelial cells and neuroblasts, and binds to Bazooka in vitro [6]. l Regulatory relationships of baz Surprisingly, Bazooka controls asymmetric localization of the Numb [16]. l Other interactions of baz PAR-1 also excludes Bazooka from the posterior of the oocyte [1]. However, the other apical components, Bazooka-atypical PKC-Par6-Inscuteable, still remain polarized and responsible for asymmetric Miranda [17]. RESULTS: We show that in photoreceptors Bazooka (D-Par3) recruits the tumor suppressor lipid phosphatase PTEN to developing cell-cell junctions (Zonula Adherens, za). za-localized PTEN [18]. BACKGROUND: In a specialized epithelial cell such as the Drosophila photoreceptor, a conserved set of proteins is essential for the establishment of polarity, its maintenance, or both--in Drosophila, these proteins include the apical factors Bazooka, D-atypical protein kinase C, and D-Par6 together with D-Ecadherin [18]. This polarity consists of an enrichment of nonmuscle myosin II at A-P cell borders and Bazooka/PAR-3 [19]. l References 1. 1rosophila PAR-1 and 14-3-3 inhibit Bazooka/PAR-3 to establish complementary cortical domains in polarized cells. Benton, R., St Johnston, D. Cell (2003) 2. Drosophila Stardust interacts with Crumbs to control polarity of epithelia but not neuroblasts. Hong, Y., Stronach, B., Perrimon, N., Jan, L.Y., Jan, Y.N. Nature (2001) 3. Bazooka provides an apical cue for Inscuteable localization in Drosophila neuroblasts. Wodarz, A., Ramrath, A., Kuchinke, U., Knust, E. Nature (1999) 4. Distinct roles of Bazooka and Stardust in the specification of Drosophila