Dissection of the Regulatory Elements of the Complex Expression Pattern of Puckered, a Dual-Specificity JNK Phosphatase

For developmental processes, we know most of the gene networks controlling specific cell responses. We still have to determine how these networks cooperate and how signals become integrated. The JNK pathway is one of the key elements modulating cellular responses during development. Yet, we still know little about how the core components of the pathway interact with additional regulators or how this network modulates cellular responses in the whole organism in homeostasis or during tissue morphogenesis. We have performed a promoter analysis, searching for potential regulatory sequences of puckered (puc) and identified different specific enhancers directing gene expression in different tissues and at different developmental times. Remarkably, some of these domains respond to the JNK activity, but not all. Altogether, these analyses show that puc expression regulation is very complex and that JNK activities participate in non-previously known processes during the development of Drosophila.

Automated summary

Although we have a better understanding of the gene networks controlling specific cell responses during developmental processes, we still need to determine how these networks cooperate and how signals become integrated. The JNK pathway, a key element in modulating cellular responses during development, interacts with additional regulators whose mechanisms remain largely unknown. In studying the regulation of puc expression, it was found that the JNK activity responds to some, but not all, specific enhancers, highlighting the complexity of puc expression regulation and the involvement of JNK activities in previously unknown processes during Drosophila development.