The Drosophila spitz gene encodes a putative EGF-like growth factor involved in dorsal-ventral axis formation and neurogenesis.
We describe the molecular characterization of the Drosophila gene spitz (spi), which encodes a putative 26-kD, EGF-like transmembrane protein that is structurally similar to TGF-alpha. Temporal and spatial expression patterns of spi transcripts indicate that spi is expressed throughout the embryo. Examination of mutant embryos reveals that spi is involved in a number of unrelated developmental choices, for example, dorsal-ventral axis formation, glial migration, sensory organ determination, and muscle development. We propose that spi may act as a ligand for cell-specific receptors, possibly rhomboid and/or the Drosophila EGF receptor homolog.
Rutledge
B J
BJ
Department of Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Zhang
K
K
Bier
E
E
Jan
Y N
YN
Perrimon
N
N
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C076026:spi protein, Drosophila; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor