Serendipity delta, a Drosophila zinc finger protein present in embryonic nuclei at the onset of zygotic gene transcription.
Serendipity delta (sry delta) is a member of a set of Drosophila zinc finger protein genes showing maximal transcription during oogenesis. By using transformant lines, we monitored the zygotic expression of the sry delta gene and characterized some biochemical properties of a sry delta/beta-galactosidase fusion protein-containing fingers. Further analysis made use of anti-sry delta specific antibodies. During oogenesis, while sry delta mRNAs transcribed by nurse cells are transferred to the oocyte starting in stage 10, translation into protein occurs in the ooplasm starting in stage 12. The maternally inherited protein concentrates in embryonic nuclei during early cleavages, prior to the onset of zygotic transcription. At the blastoderm stage, the sry delta protein is localized in all somatic nuclei. Later in embryogenesis and up to the adult stage, the zygotic protein is present in nuclei of transcriptionally active cells (both somatic and germ line). These data are consistent with the sry delta protein being a transcription factor, with a role in zygotic activation of general cellular functions.
Payre
F
F
Centre de Recherches de Biologie et Génétique Cellulaires du CNRS, Toulouse, France.
Yanicostas
C
C
Vincent
A
A
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum / Q000502:physiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008667:Metalloproteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins