Transcriptional and translational regulation of the expression of the l(2) gl tumor suppressor gene of Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

By structural, biochemical and molecular genetic analyses, we have investigated the different mechanisms that control the expression of the lethal(2) giant larvae gene, a tumor suppressor gene of Drosophila melanogaster. Transcription of the l(2) gl gene is controlled by two highly identical promoters that result from the duplication of the 2.8 kb proximal portion of the gene. These two repeats are 96% homologous. Reverse genetic analysis has shown that each promoter can drive gene expression. In addition to the promoters, both repeats express two or three exons according to the pattern of splicing. The most distal exon in the second repeat is required because it contains the ATG initiating codon at the beginning of the open reading frame. The 3′ untranslated region appears to contain motifs that specifically destabilize the transcript. Deletion of this region results in the formation of more stable mRNAs. The l(2) gl gene is characterized by an unusual codon usage that may reflect an enhanced translation efficiency by moderating the strength of pairing between codons and anticodons and may therefore increase the expressivity of this gene. Analysis of the spatio-temporal expression of the l(2) gl transcripts and proteins has shown that transcripts and proteins are produced ubiquitously during early embryogenesis, at a time when expression of the gene is required for preventing tumorigenesis. In the second half of embryogenesis, l(2) gl expression becomes restricted to tissues that do not show any phenotypic alteration in mutant animals. The l(2) gl protein exhibits two distinct intracellular localizations. It is preferentially found free in the cytoplasm but can become associated with the inner face of the plasma membrane where it is restricted to domains facing contiguous cells. In particular, the l(2) gl protein is absent from the basal and apical domains of the plasma membrane. The aim of the current research is directed towards understanding the functional relevance of the l(2) gl protein binding to the plasma membrane and its role in the control of cell proliferation and differentiation.