The dedicator of cytokinesis (DOCK) family proteins that are conserved in a wide variety of species are known as DOCK1–DOCK11 in mammals. The Sponge (Spg) is a
Drosophila counterpart to the mammalian DOCK3. Specific knockdown of
spg by
pannir-GAL4 or
apterous-GAL4 driver in wing discs induced split thorax phenotype in adults. Reduction of the
Drosophila c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK),
basket (
bsk) gene dose enhanced the
spg knockdown-induced phenotype. Conversely, overexpression of
bsk suppressed the split thorax phenotype. Monitoring JNK activity in the wing imaginal discs by immunostaining with anti-phosphorylated JNK (anti-pJNK) antibody together with examination of lacZ expression in a
puckered-lacZ enhancer trap line revealed the strong reduction of the JNK activity in the
spg knockdown clones. This was further confirmed by Western immunoblot analysis of extracts from wing discs of
spg knockdown fly with anti-pJNK antibody. Furthermore, the Duolink
in situ Proximity Ligation Assay method detected interaction signals between Spg and Rac1 in the wing discs. Taken together, these results indicate Spg positively regulates JNK pathway that is required for thorax development and the regulation is mediated by interaction with Rac1.
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