EGFR signaling coordinates patterning with cell survival during Drosophila epidermal development Samuel Crossman Sebastian J Streichan Jean-Paul Vincent 10779/crick.12619760.v1 https://crick.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/EGFR_signaling_coordinates_patterning_with_cell_survival_during_Drosophila_epidermal_development/12619760 Extensive apoptosis is often seen in patterning mutants, suggesting that tissues can detect and eliminate potentially harmful mis-specified cells. Here, we show that the pattern of apoptosis in the embryonic epidermis of Drosophila is not a response to fate mis-specification but can instead be explained by the limiting availability of prosurvival signaling molecules released from locations determined by patterning information. In wild-type embryos, the segmentation cascade elicits the segmental production of several epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligands, including the transforming growth factor Spitz (TGFα), and the neuregulin, Vein. This leads to an undulating pattern of signaling activity, which prevents expression of the proapoptotic gene head involution defective (hid) throughout the epidermis. In segmentation mutants, where specific peaks of EGFR ligands fail to form, gaps in signaling activity appear, leading to coincident hid up-regulation and subsequent cell death. These data provide a mechanistic understanding of how cell survival, and thus appropriate tissue size, is made contingent on correct patterning. 2020-07-15 10:49:18 Animals Animals, Genetically Modified Apoptosis Body Patterning Cell Survival Drosophila Proteins Drosophila melanogaster Epidermal Growth Factor Epidermis ErbB Receptors Female Genes, Insect Ligands Male Membrane Proteins Mutation Neuregulins Neuropeptides Receptors, Invertebrate Peptide Signal Transduction Vincent FC001204 LM-ack 06 Biological Sciences 11 Medical and Health Sciences 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences Developmental Biology