Dysfunction of Oskyddad causes Harlequin-type ichthyosis-like defects in Drosophila melanogaster

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Yiwen Wang - , Tianjin University (Author)
  • Michaela Norum - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Kathrin Oehl - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Yang Yang - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Renata Zuber - , Chair of Applied Zoology (OTT professorship), University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Jing Yang - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Jean-Pierre Farine - , Université de Bourgogne (Author)
  • Nicole Gehring - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Matthias Flötenmeyer - , Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology (Author)
  • Jean-François Ferveur - , Université de Bourgogne (Author)
  • Bernard Moussian - , University of Tübingen, Université Côte d'Azur (Author)

Abstract

Prevention of desiccation is a constant challenge for terrestrial organisms. Land insects have an extracellular coat, the cuticle, that plays a major role in protection against exaggerated water loss. Here, we report that the ABC transporter Oskyddad (Osy)-a human ABCA12 paralog-contributes to the waterproof barrier function of the cuticle in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We show that the reduction or elimination of Osy function provokes rapid desiccation. Osy is also involved in defining the inward barrier against xenobiotics penetration. Consistently, the amounts of cuticular hydrocarbons that are involved in cuticle impermeability decrease markedly when Osy activity is reduced. GFP-tagged Osy localises to membrane nano-protrusions within the cuticle, likely pore canals. This suggests that Osy is mediating the transport of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC) through the pore canals to the cuticle surface. The envelope, which is the outermost cuticle layer constituting the main barrier, is unaffected in osy mutant larvae. This contrasts with the function of Snu, another ABC transporter needed for the construction of the cuticular inward and outward barriers, that nevertheless is implicated in CHC deposition. Hence, Osy and Snu have overlapping and independent roles to establish cuticular resistance against transpiration and xenobiotic penetration. The osy deficient phenotype parallels the phenotype of Harlequin ichthyosis caused by mutations in the human abca12 gene. Thus, it seems that the cellular and molecular mechanisms of lipid barrier assembly in the skin are conserved during evolution.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere1008363
JournalPLOS genetics
Volume16
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2020
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC6980720
Scopus 85078562839

Keywords

Keywords

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics, Desiccation, Drosophila Proteins/genetics, Ichthyosis, Lamellar/genetics, Loss of Function Mutation