Regulation of JNK by Src during Drosophila development

In Drosophila, the Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) homolog Basket (Bsk) is required for epidermal closure. Mutants for Src42A, a Drosophila c-src prot ooncogene homolog, are described. Src42A functions in epidermal closure dur ing both embryogenesis and metamorphosis. The severity of the epidermal clo sure defect in the Src42A mutant depended on the amount of Bsk activity, an d the amount of Bsk activity depended. on the amount of Src42A. Thus, activ ation of the Bsk pathway is required downstream of Src42A in epidermal clos ure. This work confirms mammalian studies that demonstrated a physiological link between Src and JNK.