Our paper “AdamTS proteases control basement membrane heterogeneity and organ shape in Drosophila” has been published in Cell Reports

The basement membrane (BM) is an extracellular matrix that plays important roles in animal development. A spatial heterogeneity in composition and structural properties of the BM provide cells with vital cues for morphogenetic processes such as cell migration or cell polarization. Here, using the Drosophila egg chamber as a model system, we show that the BM becomes heterogeneous during development, with a reduction in Collagen IV density at the posterior pole and differences in the micropattern of aligned fiber-like structures. We identified two AdamTS matrix proteases required for the proper elongated shape of the egg chamber, yet the molecular mechanisms by which they act are different. Stall is required to establish BM heterogeneity by locally limiting Collagen IV protein density, whereas AdamTS-A alters the micropattern of fiber-like structures within the BM at the posterior pole. Our results suggest that AdamTS proteases control BM heterogeneity required for organ shape.

Uwe Töpfer^1,2, Jinhee Ryu², Karla Yanín Guerra Santillán^2,3, Jana Schulze^2,4, Elisabeth Fischer-Friedrich^3,5, Guy Tanentzapf¹, and Christian Dahmann^2,3,6

¹ Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada

² School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany

³ Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany

⁴ Present address: Section of Molecular Hematology, Department of Hematology/Oncology University Hospital Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany

⁵ Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany

⁶ Lead contact: Christian Dahmann, E-mail: christian.dahmann@tu-dresden.de

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