A Misexpression Study Examining Dorsal Thorax Formation in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

We studied thorax formation in Drosophila melanogaster using a misexpression screen with EP lines and thoracic Gal4 drivers that provide a genetically sensitized background. We identified 191 interacting lines showing alterations of thoracic bristles (number and/or location), thorax and scutellum malformations, lethality, or suppression of the thoracic phenotype used in the screen. We analyzed these lines and showed that known genes with different functional roles (selector, prepattern, proneural, cell cycle regulation, lineage restriction, signaling pathways, transcriptional control, and chromatin organization) are among the modifier lines. A few lines have previously been identified in thorax formation, but others, such as chromatin-remodeling complex genes, are novel. However, most of the interacting loci are uncharacterized, providing a wealth of new genetic data. We also describe one such novel line, poco pelo (ppo), where both misexpression and loss-of-function phenotypes are similar: loss of bristles and scutellum malformation.

Tick subolesin is an ortholog of the akirins described in insects and vertebrates

“…These results suggested that NF-kB may participate in the transcription of subolesin while subolesin may be involved in the regulation of NF-kB expression. The possibility that subolesin participates in the regulation of NF-kB expression in ticks agreed with results in D. melanogaster suggesting that akirins are likely involved in the regulation of NF-kB as well as other transcription factors such as the associated b-catenin and GATA transcription factors [21][22][23].…”

Role of BicDR in bristle shaft construction and support of BicD functions

“…Tou, on the other hand, is a transcription factor that activates proneural gene expression ( Vanolst et al, 2005 ) and has also been found in a gain-of-function screen for genes that affect external sensory organs ( Abdelilah-Seyfried et al, 2000 ). The overexpression of different tou alleles results in excess scutellar and dorsocentral macrochaetae ( Abdelilah-Seyfried et al, 2000 ; Peña-Rangel et al, 2002 ).…”

Role ofBicDRin bristle shaft construction, tracheal development, and support ofBicDfunctions

“…Tou, on the other hand, is a transcription factor that activates proneural gene expression 53 and has also been found in a gain-of-function screen for genes that affect external sensory organs 56 . The overexpression of different tou alleles results in excess scutellar and dorsocentral macrochaetae 57,58 .…”