Homeostasis of the Drosophila adult retina by actin-capping protein and the Hippo pathway

Abstract

The conserved Hippo signaling pathway regulates multiple cellular events, including tissue growth, cell fate decision and neuronal homeostasis. While the core Hippo kinase module appears to mediate all the effects of the pathway, various upstream inputs have been identified depending on tissue context. We have recently shown that, in the Drosophila wing imaginal disc, actin-Capping Protein and Hippo pathway activities inhibit F-actin accumulation. In turn, the reduction in F-actin sustains Hippo pathway activity, preventing Yorkie nuclear translocation and the upregulation of proliferation and survival genes. Here, we investigate the role of Capping Protein in growth-unrelated events controlled by the Hippo pathway. We provide evidence that loss of Capping Protein induces degeneration of the adult Drosophila retina through misregulation of the Hippo pathway. We propose a model by which F-actin dynamics might be involved in all processes that require the activity of the core Hippo kinase module.