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First published online 19 September 2007
doi: 10.1242/dev.007328

Development 134, 3665-3676 (2007)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2007
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Tramtrack regulates different morphogenetic events during Drosophila tracheal development

Sofia J. Araújo1,2, Carolina Cela1 and Marta Llimargas1,*

1 Institut de Biologia Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC), Parc Cientific de Barcelona, Josep Samitier 1-5, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
2 Institut de Recerca Biomedica de Barcelona (IRB), Parc Cientific de Barcelona, Josep Samitier 1-5, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: mlcbmc{at}cid.csic.es)

Accepted 2 August 2007

Tramtrack (Ttk) is a widely expressed transcription factor, the function of which has been analysed in different adult and embryonic tissues in Drosophila. So far, the described roles of Ttk have been mainly related to cell fate specification, cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation. Using the tracheal system of Drosophila as a morphogenetic model, we have undertaken a detailed analysis of Ttk function. Ttk is autonomously and non-autonomously required during embryonic tracheal formation. Remarkably, besides a role in the specification of different tracheal cell identities, we have found that Ttk is directly involved and required for different cellular responses and morphogenetic events. In particular, Ttk appears to be a new positive regulator of tracheal cell intercalation. Analysis of this process in ttk mutants has unveiled cell shape changes as a key requirement for intercalation and has identified Ttk as a novel regulator of its progression. Moreover, we define Ttk as the first identified regulator of intracellular lumen formation and show that it is autonomously involved in the control of tracheal tube size by regulating septate junction activity and cuticle formation. In summary, the involvement of Ttk in different steps of tube morphogenesis identifies it as a key player in tracheal development.

Key words: ttk, Tramtrack, Tracheal system, Drosophila, Morphogenesis, Organogenesis, Tubulogenesis






© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2007