Molecular characterization of the zerknüllt region of the Antennapedia complex of D. subobscura.
We have characterized at the molecular level the zerknüllt (zen) region of the Drosophila subobscura Antennapedia complex. The sequence comparison between D. subobscura and D. melanogaster shows an irregular distribution of the conserved and diverged regions, with the homeobox and a putative activating domain completely conserved. Comparisons of the promoter sequence and pattern of expression of the gene during development suggest that the regulation of zen has been conserved during evolution. The conservation of zen expression in a subpopulation of the polar cells indicates the existence of an important role in such cells. We describe a transitory segmented pattern of expression of zen in both species, suggesting the existence of interactions with a pair rule gene. Some indirect clues indicate that the z2 gene might be absent from the D. subobscura genome. A chromosome walk initiated to reach the proboscipedia gene of D. subobscura reveals that the distance between pb and zen is at least four times the one described for D. melanogaster and for D. pseudoobscura. Finally, we present cytological evidence showing that the ANT-C is inverted in D. subobscura as compared to D. melanogaster.
Terol
J
J
Department of Biochemistry, Imperial College, London, UK.
Perez-Alonso
M
M
de Frutos
R
R
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D051943:Antennapedia Homeodomain Protein; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D017344:Genes, Insect; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
D051943:Antennapedia Homeodomain Protein; C497974:Antp protein, Drosophila; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C085607:Zen protein, Drosophila; C059843:lab protein, Drosophila; C096658:pb protein, Drosophila