Alternative cleavage of a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) produces ligands with distinct developmental functions and receptor preference

Abstract

TGF-{beta} and Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) family proteins are made as proprotein dimers, which are cleaved by proprotein convertases to release the active C-terminal ligand dimer. Multiple proteolytic processing sites in Glass bottom boat (Gbb), the Drosophila BMP7 ortholog, can produce distinct forms of active ligand. Cleavage at the S1 or atypical S0 site produces Gbb15, the conventional small BMP ligand, while cleavage at the NS site produces the larger Gbb38 ligand (1, 2). Here, we found that blocking NS cleavage increased association of the full length prodomain with Gbb15 resulting in a concomitant decrease in signaling activity. NS cleavage is required in vivo for Gbb-Decapentaplegic (Dpp) heterodimer-mediated wing vein patterning but not in cell culture to enable Gbb15-Dpp het-erodimer activity. Gbb NS cleavage is also required in vivo for the regulation of pupal ecdysis and viability that is dependent on the type II receptor Wishful thinking (Wit). We found that the ability of Gbb38 to signal requires the expression of either Wit or the type I receptor, Saxophone (Sax). Finally, we discovered that the production of Gbb38 in 3rd instar larvae results when processing at the S1/S0 site is blocked by O-linked glycosylation. Our findings demonstrate that BMP prodomain cleavage can ensure that the mature ligand is not inhibited by the prodomain. Furthermore, alternative processing of BMP proproteins produces ligand types that signal preferentially through different receptors and exhibit specific developmental functions.