A genetic screen for modifiers of drosphila tumor suppressor gene hippo

Abstract

The size of organ is controlled by cell growth, proliferation and apoptosis. This coordination of proliferation and apoptosis is mediated the novel complex of tumor suppressors in Drosophila. Hpo signaling pathway starts from Fat and cycE and DIAP1 is target genes of the pathway. Their mutant phenotypes are a key point to reveal a linkage to the pathway. Loss of function of tumor suppressor gene and overexpression of oncogene has a phenotype of tissue overgrowth. Conversely, overexpression of tumor suppressor gene is showed reduced organ size. In this report, we focused on a tumor suppressor gene, hippo. Changes of eye size by hpo overexpression under control of ey-GAL4 were used as the assay system for its genetic modifiers. About 560 Ep lines were screened and total 3 lines were confirmed as candidate genes. Changes of wing area, apoptotic signal and transcription level of transcriptional factors were observed to confirm candidate genes. CG5808 and CG9004 may affect on the upstream of hpo as a suppressor. CG32244 expression may affect on the downstream of hpo as an enhancer.