Expression in the central nervous system of a subset of the yema maternally acting genes during Drosophila embryogenesis. Post-embryonic expression extends to imaginal discs and spermatocytes.
The yema gene region of Drosophila melanogaster is a cluster of maternally acting genes isolated in differential screens. At least ten transcripts are encoded by the yema gene region; most of them are produced by independent transcription units (eight different transcription units). Using RNA dot-blot analysis and in situ hybridization to tissue sections, we have realized a comprehensive survey of the temporal and spatial expression of the yema transcripts. All these transcripts are maternally expressed. Five of them display a strict maternal expression. They are found exclusively in the female germ line (nurse cells and oocyte). These transcripts are still present in the embryo as maternal information. However, a subset of the yema genes also shows an embryonic and a post-embryonic expression. Interestingly, this expression is essentially restricted to the central nervous system (CNS) throughout the fly development, to the larval and pupal imaginal discs and to a subset of cells in the male gonad, the spermatocytes. Strikingly, these expression sites mainly contain proliferating and/or differentiating cells.
Aït-Ahmed
O
O
Laboratoire de Génétique et Biologie Cellulaires, CNRS, Marseille, France.
Thomas-Cavallin
M
M
Joblet
C
C
Capri
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D012313:RNA