title: Molecular and genetic characterization of the Drosophila tartan gene.
abstract: Here we report the discovery and characterization of the Drosophila tartan gene. tartan is transcribed in an unusual embryonic pattern of intersecting stripes which are generated in response to the anterior-posterior and dorsal-ventral regulatory systems. tartan encodes a putative transmembrane protein containing extracellular leucine-rich repeats characteristic of numerous cell surface receptors and adhesion proteins. Its expression is correlated with aspects of segmentation and neurogenesis, including the formation of neuroblasts, sensory mother cells, and peripheral nerves. Mutants homozygous for a recessive lethal tartan loss-function allele exhibit defects in the position and number of cells within peripheral sense organs, the routing of peripheral nerves, and the organization of commissures within the central nervous system. Mutants are also defective in muscle organization. These results suggest that tartan is required for cell surface interactions important for normal organization of epidermal and subepidermal structures.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bockheim
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Boedigheimer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laughon
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006720:Homozygote; D007814:Larva / Q000378:metabolism; D007930:Leucine / Q000737:chemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009132:Muscles / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C084647:trn protein, Drosophila; D007930:Leucine