Expression and regulation of the abd-A gene of Drosophila.
We have developed a specific polyclonal antibody that recognizes the protein products of the abdominal-A (abd-A) gene, a member of the bithorax complex of Drosophila. The normal expression domain extends from parasegments 7 to 13, in good correspondence with previous genetic and molecular results. However, while the anterior border of expression is precisely demarcated by a parasegmental boundary, the posterior border does not coincide with a lineage boundary. Within the normal domain, the expression of abd-A shows intrametameric modulation; the amount of product is higher in posterior compartments and in the most anterior cells of the anterior compartments and then gradually decreases. We have examined the effect on abd-A expression of a number of mutations, some mapping within and others outside the abd-A transcription unit. Those mapping to the transcription unit eliminate or severely reduce the amount of abd-A antigen, while those mapping outside produce an abnormal distribution of abd-A protein. Finally, we show that the abd-A gene is down-regulated in part of the Abdominal-B (Abd-B) domain, precisely in those regions where the Abd-B gene is expressed at high levels.
Macias
A
A
Centro de Biología Molecular (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain.
Casanova
J
J
Morata
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal