Overexpression of tumor suppressor protein OSCP1/NOR1 induces ER stress and apoptosis during development of Drosophila melanogaster.

OSCP1/NOR1 (organic solute carrier partner 1/oxidored-nitro domain-containing protein 1) is known as a transporter of various organic solutes into cells and also is reported to act as a tumor suppressor protein. Although overexpression of OSCP1 has been shown to play multiple roles in mammalian cell lines, its biological significance in living organisms is not fully understood. To explore the effects of OSCP1/NOR1 on development, we performed genetic studies in flies featuring overexpression of its Drosophila orthologue, dOSCP1. Overexpression of dOSCP1 in eye imaginal discs induced a rough eye phenotype in adult flies, likely resulting from a delay in S phase progression and induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis followed by compensatory proliferation. However, it did not appear to be involved in differentiation of R7 photoreceptor cells. We also found that overexpression of dOSCP1 caused endoplasmic reticulum stress in salivary gland cells. These results indicate that overexpression of dOSCP1 exerts effects on various biological processes during Drosophila development.