Journal article
drifter, a Drosophila POU-domain transcription factor, is required for correct differentiation and migration of tracheal cells and midline glia
Genes & development, Vol.9(1), pp.123-137
01/01/1995
DOI: 10.1101/gad.9.1.123
PMID: 7828848
Abstract
The Drosophila drifter (dfr) gene, previously referred to as Cf1a, encodes a POU-domain DNA-binding protein implicated as a neuron-specific regulator in the developing central nervous system (CNS). We have isolated full-length dfr cDNA clones that encode a 46-kD protein containing the conserved POU-domain DNA-binding domain. The use of alternate polyadenylation sites produces two dfr mRNA transcripts that are first expressed in stage 10 embryos at 5- to 6-hr of development. A specific anti-dfr polyclonal antiserum generated against a dfr-glutathione S-transferase fusion protein recognizes a 46-kD protein on Western blots and has been used to analyze the cell-specific distribution of dfr protein during embryonic development. dfr protein is distributed in a complex expression pattern including the tracheal system, the middle pair of midline glia, and selected CNS neurons. We have carried out a genetic characterization of the dfr locus, previously localized to region 65D of the third chromosome, by generating a series of overlapping deficiencies between 65A and 65E1 that were used to isolate dfrE82, an EMS-induced lethal allele. Analysis of dfrE82 mutant embryos shows a disruption of the developing tracheal tree as well as commissural defects in the developing CNS. Based on an examination of a cell-specific marker for tracheal cells and midline glia, these defects appear to be caused by a failure of these cells to follow their characteristic routes of migration. The dfrE82 tracheal phenotype is rescued by a dfr minigene present as a P-element transposon expressing wild-type dfr protein in tracheal cells. These results suggest that the dfr protein plays a fundamental role in the differentiation of tracheal cells and midline glia possibly by regulating the expression of essential cell-surface proteins required for cell-cell interactions involved in directed cell migrations.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- drifter, a Drosophila POU-domain transcription factor, is required for correct differentiation and migration of tracheal cells and midline glia
- Creators
- M G Anderson - Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242G L PerkinsP ChittickR J ShrigleyW A Johnson
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Genes & development, Vol.9(1), pp.123-137
- Publisher
- United States
- DOI
- 10.1101/gad.9.1.123
- PMID
- 7828848
- ISSN
- 0890-9369
- eISSN
- 1549-5477
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/1995
- Academic Unit
- Neurology; Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984025591602771
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