Rab11 is required for maintenance of cell shape via BPS integrin mediated cell adhesion in Drosophila

In eukaryotes, vesicle trafficking is regulated by the small monomeric GTPases of the Rab protein family. Rab11, (a subfamily of the Ypt/Rab gene family) an evolutionarily conserved, ubiquitously expressed subfamily of small monomeric Rab GTPases, has been implicated in regulating vesicular trafficking through the recycling of endosomal compartment. In an earlier communication, we have shown that Rab11 is required for cell adhesion, maintenance of cell shape and actin-cytoskeleton organization during Drosophila wing development. Here, we report that Rab11 is required for the maintenance of cell shape via BPS integrin mediated cell adhesion. When Rab11 is over-expressed or activity of Rab11 is reduced via a double-stranded RNAi line, the cuticular preparation of the embryos show dorsal open phenotypes. Immuno-fluorescence and immuno-histochemical analyses on embryos in the same genetic backgrounds also show altered localization of BPS integrins at the adhesion site of leading edge and amnioserosa cells during the dorsal closure stages of embryogenesis. The cellular morphology (cell shape) of the lateral epidermal cells are also affected.