The Hippo signaling pathway is conventionally known to restrict tissue growth in animals. Genetic studies have also shown that loss of Hippo pathway components leads to defects in asymmetric cell division in Drosophila neural stem cells, known as neuroblasts. The hallmark of neuroblast division is the asymmetric localization of aPKC/Bazooka (Par3)/Par6 complex, termed the Par complex, to the apical cell cortex. However, the localization of the Hippo pathway components in neuroblasts remains unknown. Here, we report that two key activators of the Hippo pathway, Kibra and Salvador, polarize to the apical cortex of mitotic neuroblasts. We show that apical polarity, via the activity of aPKC, and F-actin dynamics synergize to drive Kibra polarization. Together, these results provide further insights into the relationship between apical polarity and Hippo pathway organization and suggest a possible mechanism by which pathway activity is regulated during neuroblast asymmetric division.
Joshi et al. (Thu,) studied this question.