Developmental signaling pathways rely on multiple protein-protein interactions that are involved in signal transmission and interpretation. To discover novel components of signaling pathways, we utilize affinity purification-mass spectrometry (AP-MS). This method involves expression of a tagged protein of interest in cell culture or in vivo, followed by purification of protein complexes and analysis of interactions by mass spectrometry (Veraksa, 2010; Veraksa, 2013). After this initial identification, which is analogous to running a genetic screen, interactions are validated in flies using genetic, imaging, and biochemical methods. These approaches have led to discoveries of novel signaling components in the Notch pathway, as well as in receptor tyrosine kinase/ERK and Hippo/Yorkie signaling pathways, as described below. Our laboratory also serves the scientific community by distributing DNA vectors for use in protein tagging and purification, as well as by sharing proteomics expertise.

The Hippo signaling pathway is a relative newcomer in the field of signal transduction, but it has emerged as a major regulator of organ growth. We are interested in how downstream signals are interpreted in this pathway by the transcriptional coactivator Yorkie (Yki), a fly homolog of human YAP/TAZ proteins. Novel regulators of this pathway identified in our laboratory in AP-MS experiments have been biologically validated in collaborative work with the Moberg and Harvey labs (Gilbert et al., 2011; Dent et al., 2015; Zhang et al., 2015; Poon et al., 2018). Our current work is focused on the protein interaction network of Yki, with the goal of identifying new components and mechanisms. One of the novel members of this network that we identified is a transcriptional regulator Bonus (Bon). In a surprising twist, we have found that Bon and Yki are likely involved in cell fate specification rather than growth, thus increasing the range of functions under Yki regulation. We are currently continuing our studies of the novel Yki interactors.

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is a member of a conserved RAF-MEK-ERK signaling module that is a focal point of regulation by multiple upstream signals. ERK plays a critical role in a wide range of developmental events, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. An important and unresolved question is how ERK exerts its activity over a large number of substrate proteins that it targets for phosphorylation. One of the key sensors of ERK activity is Capicua (Cic), a transcriptional repressor that is inactivated by ERK signaling in flies and mammals. Recent research has established human CIC as a tumor suppressor that is lost or dysregulated in many cancers. We discovered that Cic binds to activated phosphorylated ERK with higher affinity, compared to inactive ERK, and that this preferential binding is important for signal propagation in the ERK pathway (Paul et al., 2020). Current efforts are directed at understanding of the molecular and developmental consequences of Cic phosphorylation by ERK.

We have initially characterized the kinase Minibrain (Mnb) as a new component of the Hippo pathway that was identified in our AP-MS screens (Degoutin et al., 2013). Mnb is homologous to the human DYRK1A protein, which is implicated in Down syndrome, microcephaly, and other human diseases. More recently, we found that Mnb downregulates Cic function in parallel to ERK, and thus plays a role in the control of organ growth and tissue patterning (Yang et al., 2016). We are now investigating the biological role of Mnb in brain growth and neuronal specification, which is a new direction of research in the lab. We are hoping that through the studies of how Mnb controls the generation of neural stem cells and their progeny in the fly brain, we would gain insight on how DYRK1A regulates brain development in mammals.