Regulation of POU genes by castor and hunchback establishes layered compartments in the Drosophila CNS

POU transcription factors participate in cell-identity decisions during nervous system development, yet little is known about the regulatory networks controlling their expression. We report all known Drosophila POU genes require castor (cas) for correct CNS expression. drifter and I-POU depend on ca...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Genes & development 1998-01, Vol.12 (2), p.246-260
Main Authors: Kambadur, R, Koizumi, K, Stivers, C, Nagle, J, Poole, S J, Odenwald, W F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Base Sequence
Central Nervous System - embryology
DNA-Binding Proteins - chemistry
DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics
DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism
Drosophila
Drosophila - genetics
Drosophila Proteins
Enhancer Elements, Genetic
Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
Gene Expression Regulation
Homeodomain Proteins - metabolism
Immunohistochemistry
In Situ Hybridization
Microscopy, Confocal
Molecular Sequence Data
Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism
POU Domain Factors
Research Paper
Transcription Factors - genetics
Transcription Factors - metabolism
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Summary:POU transcription factors participate in cell-identity decisions during nervous system development, yet little is known about the regulatory networks controlling their expression. We report all known Drosophila POU genes require castor (cas) for correct CNS expression. drifter and I-POU depend on cas for full expression, whereas pdm-1 and pdm-2 are negatively regulated. cas encodes a zinc finger protein that shares DNA-binding specificity with another pdm repressor: the gap segmentation gene regulator Hunchback (Hb). Our studies reveal that the embryonic CNS contains sequentially generated neuroblast sublineages that can be distinguished by their expression of either Hb, Pdm-1, or Cas. Hb and Cas may directly silence pdm expression in early and late developing sublineages, given that pdm-1 cis-regulatory DNA contains >=32 Hb/Cas-binding sites and its enhancer(s) are ectopically activated in cas- neuroblasts. In addition, the targeted misexpression of Cas in all neuroblast lineages reduces Pdm-1 expression without altering Hb expression. By ensuring correct POU gene expression boundaries, hb and cas maintain temporal subdivisions in the cell-identity circuitry controlling CNS development.
ISSN:0890-9369
1549-5477
DOI:10.1101/gad.12.2.246