Positional information along the dorsal-ventral axis of the Drosophila eye: graded expression of the four-jointed gene

Several observations suggest that developing ommatidia in the Drosophila eye have distinct dorsal-ventral (d-v) positional identities, despite their morphological uniformity. To identify molecular differences along the d-v axis of the eye, we carried out a systematic screen for P-element insertions...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Developmental biology 1996-02, Vol.173 (2), p.428-446
Main Authors: Brodsky, M.H, Steller, H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Base Sequence
Cloning, Molecular
development
DNA Transposable Elements - genetics
Drosophila
Drosophila - genetics
Drosophila - growth & development
Drosophila Proteins
Enhancer Elements, Genetic - genetics
Extremities - growth & development
Eye - growth & development
eyes
Female
gene expression
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Genes, Insect - genetics
Genes, Reporter - genetics
Male
Membrane Glycoproteins - chemistry
Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics
Molecular Sequence Data
Mutation - physiology
position
position effect
RNA, Messenger - analysis
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Transcription, Genetic
Wings, Animal - growth & development
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Summary:Several observations suggest that developing ommatidia in the Drosophila eye have distinct dorsal-ventral (d-v) positional identities, despite their morphological uniformity. To identify molecular differences along the d-v axis of the eye, we carried out a systematic screen for P-element insertions that show nonuniform reporter gene expression along this axis. We identified P-element insertions in which lacZ expression is activated in dorsal, ventral, or equatorial regions of the disc. These patterns of transcriptional enhancer activity are established early in disc development and are maintained in a size invariant manner during disc growth. Several insertions with an equatorial-to-polar gradient of lacZ expression disrupt the four-jointed (fj) gene which is required for proper leg, wing, and eye development. The fj cDNA sequence includes a presumptive internal signal sequence, indicating that fj encodes a cell surface or secreted protein. Analysis of the fj phenotype and expression pattern in the leg suggests that fj is required for cell-cell signaling during disc development.
ISSN:0012-1606
1095-564X
DOI:10.1006/dbio.1996.0038