Tumorous-head (tuh-1; tuh-3) modulates Abd-B bithorax-complex functions in Drosophila melanogaster

• Published in: Genetics (Austin) 1993-03, Vol.133 (3), p.593-604
• Main Authors: Kuhn, D.T. (University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL), Mack, J.A, Duan, C, Packert, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; CABEZA; Chromosome Mapping; Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids; DESARROLLO EMBRIONARIO; DEVELOPPEMENT EMBRYONNAIRE; DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER; Drosophila melanogaster - genetics; Drosophila melanogaster - physiology; Drosophila Proteins; EXPRESION GENICA; EXPRESSION DES GENES; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GENE; GENES; Genes, Homeobox; GENETICA; Genetics; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; GENETIQUE; Head - abnormalities; HETEROCIGOTOS; HETEROZYGOTE; Homeodomain Proteins; Insect Hormones - genetics; Insects; INTERACCION DE GENES; INTERACTION GENIQUE; Invertebrata; Investigations; LOCI; LOCUS; MADRE; Male; MERE; Models, Genetic; MUTACION INDUCIDA; MUTANT; MUTANTES; Mutation; MUTATION PROVOQUEE; OEIL; OJOS; ORGANE DES SENS; ORGANOS SENSORIALES; Phenotype; SISTEMA UROGENITAL; SYSTEME UROGENITAL; TETE; Transcription, Genetic
• ISSN: 0016-6731; 1943-2631; 1943-2631
• DOI: 10.1093/genetics/133.3.593

Abdominal-B (Abd-B) mutants of the bithorax-complex (BX-C) were studied in trans with tuh-3 to evaluate their interactions with this homeotic mutant and the maternal effect locus (tuh-1) controlling tuh-3 expression. Head defects occur in tuh-3 offspring from tuh-1(h) homozygous mothers, while genital defects occur in homozygous tuh-3 offspring from mothers carrying the tuh-1(g) allele. The influence exerted by the tuh-1 maternal effects on tuh-3 Abd-B transcript distribution was evaluated by whole mount in situ hybridization. Results demonstrated that: (1) of the 21 Abd-B mutants tested, head defects were produced by SGA62, I127(B), I127(O) and tuh-3, with I127(B) and tuh-3 as the only mutants to require the head defect maternal effect for expression; (2) one specific cluster of regulatory (r) mutants, Uab(1), 65 and I127(B), enhanced penetrance and expressivity of tuh-3 head defects; (3) the most profound suppression of head defect penetrance occurred when Abd-B mutants eliminated the morphogenetic (m) and r functions; (4) genital defects increased in frequency in tuh-3/Abd-B mutant trans-heterozygotes with loss of r function; (5) Abd-B transcription (class A, class B, class C) appears normal in tuh-3 embryos when their mothers pass on the tuh-1(h) head defect maternal effect, whereas the regulatory transcripts (class B and class C) are reduced when tuh-3 mothers pass on the tuh-1(g) genital disc maternal effect; (5) tuh eye-antennal imaginal discs express ABD-B protein; and (6) tuh-3 misregulates both m and r function of Abd-B