The role of the enhancer of split complex during cell fate determination in Drosophila.
Molecular and genetic data predict that the Enhancer of split locus functions at the end of a pathway dictating appropriate cell fate determination in a number of developmental contexts. We have sought to dissect the role individual member genes of the complex play through a molecular analysis. Of the two principle class of genes, the first, members of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) class of proteins are expressed in specific regions of the embryo in subtle, overlapping patterns in cells that will differentiate as epidermis. The second, groucho, a member of the WD40 class of proteins, is expressed more generally. Immunoprecipitation experiments do not implicate groucho in G protein mediated signal transduction, a known function of many WD40 type proteins. Instead, the nuclear localisation of the protein suggests a relationship to the bHLH members of the complex. Differences in expression of the bHLH genes between neurogenic mutants implies two pathways to their activation during epidermal determination.
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Department of Biochemistry, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK.
Hartley
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D004627:Embryonic Induction; D004817:Epidermis / Q000196:embryology*; D017344:Genes, Insect / Q000502:physiology*; D005823:Genetics; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051381:Rats; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*