CasExpress reveals widespread and diverse patterns of cell survival of caspase-3 activation during development in vivo

Abstract
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Abstract

Caspase-3 carries out the executioner phase of apoptosis, however under special circumstances, cells can survive its activity. To document systematically where and when cells survive caspase-3 activation in vivo, we designed a system, CasExpress, which drives fluorescent protein expression, transiently or permanently, in cells that survive caspase-3 activation in Drosophila. We discovered widespread survival of caspase-3 activity. Distinct spatial and temporal patterns emerged in different tissues. Some cells activated caspase-3 during their normal development in every cell and in every animal without evidence of apoptosis. In other tissues, such as the brain, expression was sporadic both temporally and spatially and overlapped with periods of apoptosis. In adults, reporter expression was evident in a large fraction of cells in most tissues of every animal; however the precise patterns varied. Inhibition of caspase activity in wing discs reduced wing size demonstrating functional significance. The implications of these patterns are discussed.

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Austin Xun Ding

Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Gongping Sun

Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Yewubdar G Argaw

Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Jessica O Wong

Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Sreesankar Easwaran

Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Denise J Montell

Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States

For correspondence
denise.montell@lifesci.ucsb.edu

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

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