The alcohol dehydrogenase gene is nested in the outspread locus of Drosophila melanogaster

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996 · Genetics

OSTI ID:543027

McNabb, S; Greig, S; Davis, T ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Cambridge (United Kingdom)

This report describes the structure and expression of the outspread (osp) gene of Drosophila melanogaster. Previous work showed that chromosomal breakpoints associated with mutations of the osp locus map to both sides of the alcohol dehydrogenase gene (Adh), suggesting that Adh and the adjacent gene Adh{sup r} are nested in osp. We extended a chromosomal walk and mapped additional osp mutations to define the maximum molecular limit of osp as 119 kb. We identified a 6-kb transcript that hybridizes to osp region DNA and is altered or absent in osp mutants. Accumulation of this RNA peaks during embryonic and pupal periods. The osp cDNAs comprise two distinct classes based on alternative splicing patterns. The 5{prime} end of the longest cDNA was extended by PCR amplification. When hybridized to the osp walk, the 5{prime} extension verifies that Adh and Adh{sup r} are nested in osp and shows that osp has a transcription unit of {ge}74 kb. In situ hybridization shows that osp is expressed both maternally and zygotically. In the ovary, osp is transcribed in nurse cells and localized in the oocyte. In embryos, expression is most abundant in the developing visceral and somatic musculature. 55 refs., 11 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 543027
• Journal Information: Genetics, Vol. 143, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: Jun 1996
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE
GENE AMPLIFICATION
STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS
GENE REGULATION
GENE MUTATIONS
SPLICING
TRANSCRIPTION
GENETIC MAPPING
CHROMOSOMES
CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS
DROSOPHILA
ONTOGENESIS
MUTANTS
POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION
DNA
EMBRYOS
IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION
RNA
RECESSIVE MUTATIONS