DCP2 plays multiple roles during Drosophila development - possible case of moonlighting?

Abstract

mRNA decapping proteins (DCPs) are components of the P-bodies in the cell which are hubs of mRNAs targeted for decay and they provide the cell with a reversible pool of mRNAs in response to cellular demands. The Drosophila genome codes for two decapping proteins, DCP1 and DCP2 out of which DCP2 is the cognate decapping enzyme. The present endeavour explores the endogenous promoter firing, transcript and protein expression of DCP2 in Drosophila wherein, besides a ubiquitous expression across development, we identify active expression paradigm during dorsal closure and a plausible moonlighting expression in the Corazonin neurons of the larval brain. We also demonstrate that the ablation of DCP2 leads to embryonic lethality and defects in vital morphogenetic processes whereas a knockdown of DCP2 in the Corazonin neurons reduces the sensitivity to ethanol in adults, thereby ascribing novel regulatory roles to DCP2. Our findings unravel novel putative roles for DCP2 and identify it as a candidate for studies on the regulated interplay of essential molecules during early development in Drosophila, nay the living world.