Cell Proliferation, Cell Death, and Size Regulation

摘要

Changes in cell proliferation and cell survival are thought to be major fundamental causes of cancers. The Drosophila eye is a precise structure generated in part by apoptosis of excess cells during development. We identified a mutation named pineapple eye (pie ) that has too few cells in the retina. Cell proliferation is normal in pie mutants but excess apoptosis occurs. Multiple independent pie mutations have been collected. Amorphic mutations affect cell survival in many developing tissues causing developmental delay and death. We identified and characterized the pie gene. The pie gene is predicted to encode a novel 582 amino acid protein, perhaps interacting with molybdopterin. It is possible that the pie gene encodes a novel enzyme protecting against cell death during growth and development.