Characterizing the Novel Protein Asperous Involved in Tissue Regeneration

The mechanisms of tissue regeneration are not fully understood. Using the model of the Drosophila wing imaginal disc, we have identified factors upregulated during the regenerative process through RNA-sequencing. Asperous (CG9572) is an uncharacterized extracellular protein that is one of the most upregulated genes during regeneration. Utilizing computational tools to predict protein structure, we found the presence of a WD40 domain, suggesting a role in coordinating multi-protein complexes. Additionally, we have identified a signal peptide, indicating it may be an extracellular protein. We have observed Asperous in coordinating tissue growth in a compartment-specific manner.To characterize the role of Asperous during regeneration, we used our novel genetic ablation system to induce cell death via apoptosis or necrosis while simultaneously manipulating the surrounding tissue. We have found that Asperous is essential for regeneration when cell death is induced via apoptosis, but it not essential for regeneration when cell death in induced via necrosis. Moreover, when Asperous is knockdown in surrounding tissue of necrotic-induced damage, it improves regeneration. Given that Asperous may be controlling growth in a compartment specific manner following apoptotic damage, we have begun to characterize this in both regenerative contexts. The dual role of Asperous in different tissue regeneration backgrounds, makes it an important target for further investigate.