Lateral inhibition mediated by the Drosophila neurogenic gene delta is enhanced by proneural proteins.
Cells in the neuroectoderm of Drosophila become either neural or epidermal progenitors. A critical threshold concentration of proneural gene products in a given cell causes it to develop as a neuroblast. The proteins encoded by the genes Delta (Dl) and Notch (N) act as the source and the receptor, respectively, of inhibitory signals sent by the neuroblast to neighboring cells that prevent these cells from also adopting the neural fate. We show here that proneural gene products activate transcription of Delta in the neuroectoderm by binding to specific sites in its promoter. This transcriptional activation enhances lateral inhibition and thus helps ensure that cells in the vicinity of prospective neuroblasts will themselves become epidermoblasts.
Kunisch
M
M
Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Universität zu Köln, Germany.
Haenlin
M
M
Campos-Ortega
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017344:Genes, Insect; D006720:Homozygote; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D010957:Plasmids; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C064045:delta protein