The Drosophila IgC2 domain protein friend-of-echinoid, a paralogue of echinoid, limits the number of sensory organ precursors in the wing disc and interacts with the Notch signaling pathway

The Notch signaling pathway is critical in cell fate specification throughout development. In the developing wing disc, single sensory organ precursors (SOPs) are selected from proneural clusters via a process of lateral inhibition mediated by the Notch signaling pathway. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway has also been implicated in SOP formation. Here, we describe the Drosophila melanogaster gene friend of echinoid (fred), a paralogue of echinoid (ed), a gene recently identified as a negative regulator of the EGFR pathway. fred function was examined in transgenic flies by using inducible RNA interference (RNAi). Suppression of fred in developing wing discs results in specification of ectopic SOPs, additional microchaeta, and cell death. In eye-antennal discs, fred suppression causes a rough eye phenotype. These phenotypes are suppressed by overexpression of Notch, Suppressor of Hairless [Su(H)], and Enhancer of split m7. In contrast, overexpression of Hairless, a negative regulator of the Notch pathway, and decreased Su(H) activity enhance these phenotypes. Thus, fred acts in close concert with the Notch signaling pathway. Dosage-sensitive genetic interaction also suggests a close relationship between fred and ed.