Localized expression of a novel micropia-like element in the blastoderm of Drosophila melanogaster is dependent on the anterior morphogen bicoid

Frommer, Götz; Schuh, Reinhard; Jäckle, Herbert

doi:10.1007/bf00352316

Cited by 13 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…However, the sequence of the 1,737-bp fragment begins within an open reading frame that extends to a stop codon at position 524, which is followed by a polyadenylation signal (Genbank U71250). The deduced sequence of this open reading frame includes 99 amino acids, from positions 83 to 379, that has 24% identity and 45% similarity with the protease domain of the D. melanogaster transposable element blastopia (Frommer et al 1994). A region of an additional 24 amino acids, from positions 1036 to 1107, has 37% identity and 58% similarity to the integrase domain of the blastopia element.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification and Characterization of the Cecropin Antibacterial Protein Gene Locus in Drosophila virilis

1997

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Cecropin is a type of antibacterial peptide that is synthesized in response to infection and has been characterized in many insect species and one mammal. The Cecropin locus of Drosophila melanogaster also contains the gene Andropin, which has been identified only in this species and encodes a male-specific antibacterial peptide. As a first step in studying the molecular evolution of the cecropin and andropin genes among Drosophila species, we have isolated genomic clones that cover the Cecropin locus in Drosophila virilis. The cloned region totals approximately 25 kb, within which a 9-kb fragment contains four cecropin genes and one pseudogene. All four genes have a high level of sequence homology to D. melanogaster Cecropin, about 80% identity in the coding regions, and the intron positions are conserved. As in D. melanogaster and other insects, B-related cis-regulatory elements are found upstream of these cecropin genes. An Andropin-related sequence was not identified in D. virilis; however, genome Southern hybridizations suggest that Andropin-related sequences are present in at least the melanogaster species subgroup. Analysis of 19 insect cecropin genes identifies a common ancestral Cecropin before the divergence of Diptera and Lepidoptera. In addition, D. melanogaster and D. virilis can be identified by monophyletic clades for Cecropin. In contrast, the Lepidopteran species show polyphyletic relationships for duplicated cecropin genes.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification and Characterization of the Cecropin Antibacterial Protein Gene Locus in Drosophila virilis

1997

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“…Expression of 412 is even proposed to be a direct consequence of transcriptional activation by the UBX transcription factor (Ding & Lipshitz, 1994), and is decreased by 20-OH ecdysone applied to cultured D. melanogaster Kc cells (Micard et al, 1988 ;Becker et al, 1991). Expression of the blastopia transcripts in blastoderm embryo is under the control of the Drosophila morphogen bicoid (Frommer et al, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental expression of the 412 retrotransposon in natural populations of D. melanogaster and D. simulans

2000

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We analysed the pattern of expression of retrotransposon 412 through developmental stages in various populations of Drosophila simulans and D. melanogaster differing in 412 copy number. We found that the 412 expression pattern varied greatly between populations of both species, indicating that such patterns were not entirely species-specific. In D. simulans, total transcripts increased with number of 412 copies in the chromosomes when this number was low, and then decreased for high copy numbers. D. melanogaster, which has a higher 412 copy number than D. simulans, had overall a lower global 412 expression, but again showed variation in 412 expression pattern between populations. These results suggest that in populations of D. simulans with low 412 copy number, the expression pattern of this element depends not only on copy number but also on host cellular regulatory sequences near which the elements were inserted. In D. simulans populations with high copy number overall transcription was on the contrary globally repressed, as observed in D. melanogaster. A population from Canberra (Australia) which had a very high 412 copy number was found to be associated with very high expression of 412 over all developmental stages, suggesting that the above 412 expression regulation processes are overcome in this population sample. The analysis of hybrids between geographically distinct populations of D. simulans showed that 412 expression was trans-regulated differently according to developmental stages, implying complex interactions between the 412 element and stage-specific host genes.

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“…A corresponding phage was isolated from an eyR genomic library and analyzed (23). The partial DNA sequence obtained from this phage allowed us to identify the inserted element as blastopia, a retrotransposon identified recently by its spatially restricted expression in the prospective head region of the blastodermstage embryo (24).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Homology of the eyeless Gene of Drosophila to the Small eye Gene in Mice and Aniridia in Humans

Quiring

Walldorf

Kloter

et al. 1994

Science

1,039

691

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A Drosophila gene that contains both a paired box and a homeobox and has extensive sequence homology to the mouse Pax-6 (Small eye) gene was isolated and mapped to chromosome IV in a region close to the eyeless locus. Two spontaneous mutations, ey2 and eyR, contain transposable element insertions into the cloned gene and affect gene expression, particularly in the eye primordia. This indicates that the cloned gene encodes ey. The finding that ey of Drosophila, Small eye of the mouse, and human Aniridia are encoded by homologous genes suggests that eye morphogenesis is under similar genetic control in both vertebrates and insects, in spite of the large differences in eye morphology and mode of development.

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Localized expression of a novel micropia-like element in the blastoderm of Drosophila melanogaster is dependent on the anterior morphogen bicoid

Cited by 13 publications

References 43 publications

Identification and Characterization of the Cecropin Antibacterial Protein Gene Locus in Drosophila virilis

Identification and Characterization of the Cecropin Antibacterial Protein Gene Locus in Drosophila virilis

Developmental expression of the 412 retrotransposon in natural populations of D. melanogaster and D. simulans

Homology of the eyeless Gene of Drosophila to the Small eye Gene in Mice and Aniridia in Humans

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