title: Musashi, a neural RNA-binding protein required for Drosophila adult external sensory organ development.
abstract: A family of neural RNA-binding proteins has recently been described in both vertebrates and invertebrates. We have identified a new member of this family, the Drosophila musashi (msi) locus, which is required for development of adult external sensory organs (sensilla). In contrast with wild-type sensilla, which contain two outer support cells, the msi mutation typically results in the appearance of extra outer support cells. The msi putative RNA-binding protein is localized to the nucleus and appears to be expressed in all cells in each sensillum and predominantly in neurons during embryogenesis. We propose that the msi protein regulates sensillum development by controlling the expression of target genes at the posttranscriptional level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Blendy
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montell
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D015870:Gene Expression; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012679:Sense Organs / Q000254:growth & development*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C088623:msi protein, Drosophila; D001616:beta-Galactosidase