The involvement of the Notch locus in Drosophila oogenesis.
The Notch gene in Drosophila encodes a transmembrane protein with homology to EGF that, in a variety of tissues, appears to mediate cell interactions necessary for cell fate choices. Here we demonstrate that oogenesis and spermatogenesis depend on Notch. We examine the phenotypes of the temperature-sensitive Notch allele, Nts1, and, using a monoclonal antibody, determine the cellular and subcellular distribution of Notch protein during oogenesis. We show that Nts1 is associated with a missense mutation in the extracellular, EGF homologous region of Notch and that at non-permissive temperatures oogenesis is blocked and the subcellular distribution of the protein is altered. In wild-type ovaries, Notch protein is found on the apical surface of somatically derived follicle cells, while in the germline-derived cells the protein is not polarized. These findings are discussed in view of the hypothesis that Notch acts as a multifunctional receptor to mediate developmentally important cell interactions.
Xu
T
T
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University, Department of Cell Biology, New Haven, CT 06536-0812.
Caron
L A
LA
Fehon
R G
RG
Artavanis-Tsakonas
S
S
D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004627:Embryonic Induction / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology*; D005796:Genes / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D010053:Ovary / Q000196:embryology; D010641:Phenotype; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C497759:N protein, Drosophila; D051880:Receptors, Notch