Embryonic expression pattern of a family of Drosophila proteins that interact with a central nervous system regulatory element.
The protein Elf-1 interacts with a cis-acting element that is required specifically for the neuronal expression of the Drosophila dopa decarboxylase gene Ddc. Using protein purified from Drosophila embryos, we raised Elf-1-specific monoclonal antibodies. The expression of Elf-1 during embryogenesis is restricted to nuclei of tissues derived from ectoderm, predominantly the central nervous system (CNS) and the epidermis. Within the CNS, Elf-1 is present in only a small fraction of nuclei, and the pattern of expressing nuclei changes dramatically during development. Elf-1 and Ddc are coexpressed in primary cultures of neural cells. However, we do not detect Elf-1 in Ddc-expressing neurons in vivo, leading to the suggestion that Elf-1 activity is required in vivo for initiation of Ddc expression but not for its maintenance. The antibodies also were used to isolate cDNA clones encoding Elf-1. Alternate forms of Elf-1 mRNA result in at least three protein isoforms.
Bray
S J
SJ
Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Burke
B
B
Brown
N H
NH
Hirsh
J
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004296:Dopa Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D011506:Proteins; D004247:DNA; D004296:Dopa Decarboxylase