Exploiting Drosophila melanogaster Wing Imaginal Disc Eversion to Screen for New EMT Effectors

Abstract

In the early stages of Drosophila melanogaster (Drosophila) metamorphosis, a partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (pEMT) takes place in the peripodial epithelium of wing imaginal discs. Blocking this pEMT results in adults with internalized wings and missing thoracic tissue. Using peripodial GAL4 drivers, GAL80ts temporal control, and UAS RNAi transgenes, one can use these phenotypes to screen for genes involved in the pEMT. Dominant modifier tests can then be employed to identify genetic enhancers and suppressors. To analyze a gene's role in the pEMT, one can then visualize peripodial cells in vivo at the time of eversion within the pupal case using live markers, and by dissecting, fix..