Molecular analysis of the locus elav in Drosophila melanogaster: a gene whose embryonic expression is neural specific.
The embryonic lethal abnormal visual system (elav) locus in Drosophila melanogaster, a vital gene mapping within the 1B5-1B9 region of the X-chromosome has been cloned and analysed. Previous developmental analyses have shown that in addition to the embryonic requirement there is a post-embryonic requirement for elav function in the cells of the visual system. A DNA segment containing elav+ function was defined through germ line transformation experiments. This region encodes three embryonic poly(A)+ RNAs and two adult transcripts which are preferentially expressed in the head. In situ hybridization experiments clearly demonstrate that the embryonic expression of elav is restricted to the nervous system.
D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D005796:Genes; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010957:Plasmids; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014960:X Chromosome
D004247:DNA