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First published online 27 May 2009
doi: 10.1242/dev.035204

Development 136, 2235-2245 (2009)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2009
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Regulation of leg size and shape by the Dachsous/Fat signalling pathway during regeneration

Tetsuya Bando*, Taro Mito, Yuko Maeda, Taro Nakamura, Fumiaki Ito, Takahito Watanabe, Hideyo Ohuchi and Sumihare Noji{dagger}

Department of Life Systems, Institute of Technology and Science, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, 2-1 Minami-Jyosanjima-cho, Tokushima city, 770-8506, Japan.

{dagger} Author for correspondence (e-mail: noji{at}bio.tokushima-u.ac.jp)

Accepted 28 April 2009

An amputated cricket leg regenerates all missing parts with normal size and shape, indicating that regenerating blastemal cells are aware of both their position and the normal size of the leg. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating this process remain elusive. Here, we use a cricket model to show that the Dachsous/Fat (Ds/Ft) signalling pathway is essential for leg regeneration. We found that knockdown of ft or ds transcripts by regeneration-dependent RNA interference (rdRNAi) suppressed proliferation of the regenerating cells along the proximodistal (PD) axis concomitantly with remodelling of the pre-existing stump, making the regenerated legs shorter than normal. By contrast, knockdown of the expanded (ex) or Merlin (Mer) transcripts induced over-proliferation of the regenerating cells, making the regenerated legs longer. These results are consistent with those obtained using rdRNAi during intercalary regeneration induced by leg transplantation. We present a model to explain our results in which the steepness of the Ds/Ft gradient controls growth along the PD axis of the regenerating leg.

Key words: Dachsous/Fat, Expanded/Merlin, Legs, Regeneration, Size, Steepness model


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