Co-localization of FAM and AF-6, the mammalian homologues of Drosophila faf and canoe, in mouse eye development

Abstract

The Drosophila fat facets and canoe genes regulate non-neural cell fate decisions during ommatidium formation. We have shown previously that the FAM (fat facets in mouse) de-ubiquitinating enzyme regulates the function of AF-6, (mammalian canoe homologue), in the MDCK epithelial cell line (Taya et al., 1998. The Ras target AF-6 is a substrate of the fam de-ubiquitinating enzyme. J. Cell Biol. 142, 1053-1062). We report here that the expression of the FAM and AF-6 proteins overlaps extensively in the mouse eye from embryogenesis to maturity, especially in the non-neural epithelia including the retinal pigment epithelium, subcapsular epithelium of the lens and corneal epithelium. Expression is not limited to the epithelia however, as FAM and AF-6 also co-localize during lens fibre development as well as in sub-populations of the neural retina.