A Drosophila homologue of membrane-skeleton protein 4.1 is associated with septate junctions and is encoded by the coracle gene.
Protein 4.1 functions to link transmembrane proteins with the underlying spectrin/actin cytoskeleton. To permit a genetic analysis of the developmental role and cellular functions of this membrane-skeletal protein, we have identified and characterized its Drosophila homologue (termed D4.1). D4.1 is localized to the septate junctions of epithelial cells and is encoded by the coracle gene, a new locus whose primary mutant phenotype is a failure in dorsal closure. In addition, coracle mutations dominantly suppress Ellipse, a hypermorphic allele of the Drosophila EGF-receptor homologue. These data indicate that D4.1 is associated with the septate junction, and suggest that it may play a role in cell-cell interactions that are essential for normal development.
Fehon
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RG
Department of Zoology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0325.
Dawson
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Artavanis-Tsakonas
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000235:genetics; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009479:Neuropeptides; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014981:Xenopus / Q000235:genetics
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; C028841:erythrocyte membrane band 4.1 protein; C120557:erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1-like 1