Mutations that alter the timing and pattern of cubitus interruptus gene expression in Drosophila melanogaster

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Genetics

OSTI ID:255339

Slusarski, D C; Motzny, C K; Holmgren, R ^[1]

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1. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)

The cubitus interruptus (ci) gene is a member of the Drosophila segment polarity gene family and encodes a protein with a zinc finger domain homologous to the vertebrate Gli genes and the nematode tra-1 gene. Three classes of existing mutations in the ci locus alter the regulation of ci expression and can be used to examine ci function during development. The first class of ci mutations causes interruptions in wing veins four and five due to inappropriate expression of the ci product in the posterior compartment of imaginal discs. The second class of mutations eliminates ci protein early in embryogenesis and causes the deletion of structures that are derived from the region including and adjacent to the engrailed expressing cells. The third class of mutations eliminates ci protein later in embryogenesis and blocks the formation of the ventral naked cuticle. The loss of ci expression at these two different stages in embryonic development correlates with the subsequent elimination of wingless expression. Adults heterozygous for the unique ci{sup Ce} mutation have deletions between wing veins three and four. A similar wing defect is present in animals mutant for the segment polarity gene fused that encodes a putative serine/threonine kinase. In ci{sup Ce}/+ and fused mutants, the deletions between wing veins three and four correlate with increased ci protein levels in the anterior compartment. Thus, proper regulation of both the ci mRNA and protein appears to be critical for normal Drosophila development. 47 refs., 9 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 255339
• Journal Information: Genetics, Journal Name: Genetics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 139; ISSN GENTAE; ISSN 0016-6731
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
DROSOPHILA
GENE MUTATIONS
GENE REGULATION
GENES
ONTOGENESIS
PHENOTYPE
PROTEINS
STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS