Francisco A Martin | CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Spanish National Research Council) (original) (raw)
Papers by Francisco A Martin
The International Journal of Developmental Biology, 2009
Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is a conserved process in all animals, used to eliminate damage... more Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is a conserved process in all animals, used to eliminate damaged or unwanted cells after stress events or during normal development to sculpt larval or adult structures. In Drosophila, it is known that stress events such as irradiation or heat shock give rise to high apoptotic levels which remove more than 50% of cells in imaginal discs. However, the surviving cells are able to restore normal size and pattern, indicating that they undergo additional proliferation. This "compensatory proliferation" is still poorly understood. One widely used method to study the properties of apoptotic cells is to keep them alive by expressing in them the baculoviral protein P35, which blocks the activity of the effector caspases. These "undead" cells acquire special features, such as the emission of the growth signals Dpp and Wg, changes in cellular morphology and induction of proliferation in neighbouring cells. Here, we review the various methods used in Drosophila to block apoptosis and its consequences, and focus on the generation and properties of undead cells in the wing imaginal disc. We describe their effects in epithelial architecture and growth in some detail, and discuss the possible relationship between undead cells and compensatory proliferation.
Mechanisms of Development, Mar 1, 2009
Science, Sep 6, 2013
Animal development is coupled with innate behaviors that maximize chances of survival. Here we sh... more Animal development is coupled with innate behaviors that maximize chances of survival. Here we show that the prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH), a neuropeptide that controls the developmental transition from juvenile stage to sexual maturation, also regulates light avoidance in Drosophila melanogaster larvae. PTTH, through its receptor Torso, acts on two light sensors, the Bolwig's organ and the peripheral class IV dendritic arborization neurons, to regulate light avoidance. We find that PTTH concomitantly promotes steroidogenesis and light avoidance at the end of larval stage, thereby driving animals towards a darker environment to initiate the immobile maturation phase. Thus, PTTH controls the decisions of when and where animals undergo metamorphosis, optimizing conditions for adult development.
Cell Death & Differentiation, Aug 7, 2015
Development, Nov 15, 2009
Developmental Cell, Jul 1, 2007
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Nov 28, 2005
Development, Nov 15, 2006
Development, Oct 15, 2004
Development, Nov 15, 2004
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Apr 28, 2024
Communications biology, Jun 30, 2022
Virtually every single living organism on Earth shows a circadian (i.e. "approximately a day") in... more Virtually every single living organism on Earth shows a circadian (i.e. "approximately a day") internal rhythm that is coordinated with planet rotation (i.e. 24 hours). External cues synchronize the central clock of the organism. Consequences of biological rhythm disruptions have been extensively studied on cancer. Still, mechanisms underlying these alterations, and how they favor tumor development remain largely unknown. Here, we show that glioblastoma-induced neurodegeneration also causes circadian alterations in Drosophila. Preventing neurodegeneration in all neurons by genetic means reestablishes normal biological rhythms. Interestingly, in early stages of tumor development, the central pacemaker lengthens its period, whereas in later stages this is severely disrupted. The readjustment of the external light:dark period to longer glioblastoma-induced internal rhythms delays glioblastoma progression and ameliorates associated deleterious effects, even after the tumor onset.
Journal of Neurogenetics, Sep 4, 2017
Daily biological rhythms (i.e. circadian) are a fundamental part of animal behavior. Numerous rep... more Daily biological rhythms (i.e. circadian) are a fundamental part of animal behavior. Numerous reports have shown disruptions of the biological clock in neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. In the latter case, only recently we have gained insight into the molecular mechanisms. After 45 years of intense study of the circadian rhtythms, we find surprising similarities among species on the molecular clock that governs biological rhythms. Indeed, Drosophila is one of the most widely used models in the study of chronobiology. Recent studies in the fruit fly have revealed unpredicted roles for the clock machinery in different aspects of behavior and physiology. Not only the central pacemaker cells do have non-classical circadian functions but also circadian genes work in other cells and tissues different from central clock neurons. In this review, we summarize these new evidences. We also recapitulate the most basic features of Drosophila circadian clock, including recent data about the inputs and outputs that connect the central pacemaker with other regions of the brain. Finally, we discuss the advantages and drawbacks of using natural versus laboratory conditions.
Current Biology, Mar 1, 2019
Highlights d AstA/AstAR1 signaling times the onset of maturation by promoting PTTH secretion d As... more Highlights d AstA/AstAR1 signaling times the onset of maturation by promoting PTTH secretion d AstA/AstAR1 promotes juvenile growth by controlling Dilps secretion in the IPCs d AstA N1 neurons coordinate growth and maturation during larval development d AstA/AstAR1 achieves maximal activity in PTTH neurons at maturation onset
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Jan 4, 2020
Cell to cell communication facilitates tissue development and physiology. Under pathological cond... more Cell to cell communication facilitates tissue development and physiology. Under pathological conditions, brain tumors disrupt glia-neuron communication signals that in consequence, promote tumor expansion at the expense of surrounding healthy tissue. The glioblastoma is the most aggressive and frequent brain tumor. This type of glioma expands and infiltrates into the brain, causing neuronal degeneration and neurological decay, among other symptoms. Here we describe how the glioblastoma produce ImpL2, an antagonist of the insulin
Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2021
Puberty and metamorphosis are two major developmental transitions linked to the reproductive matu... more Puberty and metamorphosis are two major developmental transitions linked to the reproductive maturation. In mammals and vertebrates, the central brain acts as a gatekeeper, timing the developmental transition through the activation of a neuroendocrine circuitry. In addition to reproduction, these neuroendocrine axes and the sustaining genetic network play additional roles in metabolism, sleep and behavior. Although neurohormonal axes regulating juvenile-adult transition have been classically considered the result of convergent evolution (i.e., analogous) between mammals and insects, recent findings challenge this idea, suggesting that at least some neuroendocrine circuits might be present in the common bilaterian ancestor Urbilateria. The initial signaling pathways that trigger the transition in different species appear to be of a single evolutionary origin and, consequently, many of the resulting functions are conserved with a few other molecular players being co-opted during evolu...
The EMBO Journal, 2008
The control of tissue growth and patterning is orchestrated in various multicellular tissues by t... more The control of tissue growth and patterning is orchestrated in various multicellular tissues by the coordinated activity of the signalling molecules Wnt/Wingless (Wg) and Notch, and mutations in these pathways can cause cancer. The role of these molecules in the control of cell proliferation and the crosstalk between their corresponding pathways remain poorly understood. Crosstalk between Notch and Wg has been proposed to organize pattern and growth in the Drosophila wing primordium. Here we report that Wg and Notch act in a surprisingly linear pathway to control G1-S progression. We present evidence that these molecules exert their function by regulating the expression of the dmyc proto-oncogene and the bantam micro-RNA, which positively modulated the activity of the E2F transcription factor. Our results demonstrate that Notch acts in this cellular context as a repressor of cell-cycle progression and Wg has a permissive role in alleviating Notch-mediated repression of G1-S progression in wing cells.
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, Mar 3, 2022
The International Journal of Developmental Biology, 2009
Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is a conserved process in all animals, used to eliminate damage... more Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is a conserved process in all animals, used to eliminate damaged or unwanted cells after stress events or during normal development to sculpt larval or adult structures. In Drosophila, it is known that stress events such as irradiation or heat shock give rise to high apoptotic levels which remove more than 50% of cells in imaginal discs. However, the surviving cells are able to restore normal size and pattern, indicating that they undergo additional proliferation. This "compensatory proliferation" is still poorly understood. One widely used method to study the properties of apoptotic cells is to keep them alive by expressing in them the baculoviral protein P35, which blocks the activity of the effector caspases. These "undead" cells acquire special features, such as the emission of the growth signals Dpp and Wg, changes in cellular morphology and induction of proliferation in neighbouring cells. Here, we review the various methods used in Drosophila to block apoptosis and its consequences, and focus on the generation and properties of undead cells in the wing imaginal disc. We describe their effects in epithelial architecture and growth in some detail, and discuss the possible relationship between undead cells and compensatory proliferation.
Mechanisms of Development, Mar 1, 2009
Science, Sep 6, 2013
Animal development is coupled with innate behaviors that maximize chances of survival. Here we sh... more Animal development is coupled with innate behaviors that maximize chances of survival. Here we show that the prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH), a neuropeptide that controls the developmental transition from juvenile stage to sexual maturation, also regulates light avoidance in Drosophila melanogaster larvae. PTTH, through its receptor Torso, acts on two light sensors, the Bolwig's organ and the peripheral class IV dendritic arborization neurons, to regulate light avoidance. We find that PTTH concomitantly promotes steroidogenesis and light avoidance at the end of larval stage, thereby driving animals towards a darker environment to initiate the immobile maturation phase. Thus, PTTH controls the decisions of when and where animals undergo metamorphosis, optimizing conditions for adult development.
Cell Death & Differentiation, Aug 7, 2015
Development, Nov 15, 2009
Developmental Cell, Jul 1, 2007
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Nov 28, 2005
Development, Nov 15, 2006
Development, Oct 15, 2004
Development, Nov 15, 2004
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Apr 28, 2024
Communications biology, Jun 30, 2022
Virtually every single living organism on Earth shows a circadian (i.e. "approximately a day") in... more Virtually every single living organism on Earth shows a circadian (i.e. "approximately a day") internal rhythm that is coordinated with planet rotation (i.e. 24 hours). External cues synchronize the central clock of the organism. Consequences of biological rhythm disruptions have been extensively studied on cancer. Still, mechanisms underlying these alterations, and how they favor tumor development remain largely unknown. Here, we show that glioblastoma-induced neurodegeneration also causes circadian alterations in Drosophila. Preventing neurodegeneration in all neurons by genetic means reestablishes normal biological rhythms. Interestingly, in early stages of tumor development, the central pacemaker lengthens its period, whereas in later stages this is severely disrupted. The readjustment of the external light:dark period to longer glioblastoma-induced internal rhythms delays glioblastoma progression and ameliorates associated deleterious effects, even after the tumor onset.
Journal of Neurogenetics, Sep 4, 2017
Daily biological rhythms (i.e. circadian) are a fundamental part of animal behavior. Numerous rep... more Daily biological rhythms (i.e. circadian) are a fundamental part of animal behavior. Numerous reports have shown disruptions of the biological clock in neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. In the latter case, only recently we have gained insight into the molecular mechanisms. After 45 years of intense study of the circadian rhtythms, we find surprising similarities among species on the molecular clock that governs biological rhythms. Indeed, Drosophila is one of the most widely used models in the study of chronobiology. Recent studies in the fruit fly have revealed unpredicted roles for the clock machinery in different aspects of behavior and physiology. Not only the central pacemaker cells do have non-classical circadian functions but also circadian genes work in other cells and tissues different from central clock neurons. In this review, we summarize these new evidences. We also recapitulate the most basic features of Drosophila circadian clock, including recent data about the inputs and outputs that connect the central pacemaker with other regions of the brain. Finally, we discuss the advantages and drawbacks of using natural versus laboratory conditions.
Current Biology, Mar 1, 2019
Highlights d AstA/AstAR1 signaling times the onset of maturation by promoting PTTH secretion d As... more Highlights d AstA/AstAR1 signaling times the onset of maturation by promoting PTTH secretion d AstA/AstAR1 promotes juvenile growth by controlling Dilps secretion in the IPCs d AstA N1 neurons coordinate growth and maturation during larval development d AstA/AstAR1 achieves maximal activity in PTTH neurons at maturation onset
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Jan 4, 2020
Cell to cell communication facilitates tissue development and physiology. Under pathological cond... more Cell to cell communication facilitates tissue development and physiology. Under pathological conditions, brain tumors disrupt glia-neuron communication signals that in consequence, promote tumor expansion at the expense of surrounding healthy tissue. The glioblastoma is the most aggressive and frequent brain tumor. This type of glioma expands and infiltrates into the brain, causing neuronal degeneration and neurological decay, among other symptoms. Here we describe how the glioblastoma produce ImpL2, an antagonist of the insulin
Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2021
Puberty and metamorphosis are two major developmental transitions linked to the reproductive matu... more Puberty and metamorphosis are two major developmental transitions linked to the reproductive maturation. In mammals and vertebrates, the central brain acts as a gatekeeper, timing the developmental transition through the activation of a neuroendocrine circuitry. In addition to reproduction, these neuroendocrine axes and the sustaining genetic network play additional roles in metabolism, sleep and behavior. Although neurohormonal axes regulating juvenile-adult transition have been classically considered the result of convergent evolution (i.e., analogous) between mammals and insects, recent findings challenge this idea, suggesting that at least some neuroendocrine circuits might be present in the common bilaterian ancestor Urbilateria. The initial signaling pathways that trigger the transition in different species appear to be of a single evolutionary origin and, consequently, many of the resulting functions are conserved with a few other molecular players being co-opted during evolu...
The EMBO Journal, 2008
The control of tissue growth and patterning is orchestrated in various multicellular tissues by t... more The control of tissue growth and patterning is orchestrated in various multicellular tissues by the coordinated activity of the signalling molecules Wnt/Wingless (Wg) and Notch, and mutations in these pathways can cause cancer. The role of these molecules in the control of cell proliferation and the crosstalk between their corresponding pathways remain poorly understood. Crosstalk between Notch and Wg has been proposed to organize pattern and growth in the Drosophila wing primordium. Here we report that Wg and Notch act in a surprisingly linear pathway to control G1-S progression. We present evidence that these molecules exert their function by regulating the expression of the dmyc proto-oncogene and the bantam micro-RNA, which positively modulated the activity of the E2F transcription factor. Our results demonstrate that Notch acts in this cellular context as a repressor of cell-cycle progression and Wg has a permissive role in alleviating Notch-mediated repression of G1-S progression in wing cells.
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, Mar 3, 2022