Mutations of the 'discs large' (dlg) tumor suppressor locus in Drosophila lead to imaginal disc neoplasia and a prolonged larval period followed by death. Drosophila dlg and related proteins form a subfamily of the membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) protein family and are important components of specialized cell junctions.
NCBI Summary:
This gene encodes a member of the membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) family. It heteromultimerizes with DLG2. With DLG2 it is recruited into the same NMDA receptor and potassium channel clusters. These two MAGUK proteins may interact at postsynaptic sites to form a multimeric scaffold for the clustering of receptors, ion channels, and associated signaling proteins.
General function
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Cellular localization
Plasma membrane
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Ovarian function
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Expression regulated by
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Ovarian localization
Oocyte, Granulosa, Surface epithelium
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Huang JH, et al 2003 reported the expression of Drosophila neoplastic tumor suppressor genes discslarge, scribble, and lethal giant larvae in the mammalian ovary.
The similarities and differences in molecular mechanisms regulating invertebrate and mammalian folliculogenesis are starting to be deciphered. In Drosophila, the neoplastic tumor suppressor gene discslarge is crucial for suppressing proliferation and movement of follicle cells relative to the growing oocyte. Lethal giant larvae and scribble play similar roles and have been suggested to collaborate intimately with discslarge. The authors have identified and determined the expression pattern of murine homologs of these Drosophila genes. In situ data shows that murine discslarge-1, discslarge-3, discslarge-4, lethal giant larvae, and scribble are expressed in both overlapping and distinct patterns in oocytes and granulosa cells in maturing follicles. Disclarge-4 is expressed in the surface epithelium and is lost in mouse carcinogenic surface epithelial cells. All of these genes, as well as discslarge-2 and discslarge-5, are expressed in human ovaries. The data suggests that as in Drosophila, these tumor suppressors may cooperate during mammalian folliculogenesis, but also have distinct functions.