FTZ-F1 beta, a novel member of the Drosophila nuclear receptor family.
The Drosophila melanogaster gene FTZ-F1 beta, encoding a novel member of the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor gene superfamily, was isolated by cross-hybridization with a complementary DNA for the Drosophila nuclear receptor, FTZ-F1 (Lavorgna et al., 1991). The cDNA deduced protein sequence for FTZ-F1 beta displays significant amino acid identity with other vertebrate and invertebrate nuclear receptors, most notably with FTZ-F1. Also, bacterially expressed FTZ-F1 beta protein binds to a FTZ-F1 binding site found in the zebra stripe promoter element of the segmentation gene fushi tarazu (ftz). Northern blot analysis detected FTZ-F1 beta expression at all stages of the Drosophila life cycle including a possible maternal component. In situ hybridization in whole-mounted embryos localized transcripts for FTZ-F1 beta evenly expressed throughout the blastodermal layer in early embryos. At later stages of development strong FTZ-F1 beta expression is observed in both the brain and ventral chord structures as well as in the hindgut. Temporal and spatial expression patterns of the FTZ-F1 beta gene suggest that it may have multiple roles in early embryogenesis, neurogenesis, and in the adult. Furthermore, the identification of FTZ-F1 beta as a nuclear receptor family member suggests that an as yet undiscovered FTZ-F1 beta specific ligand is involved in Drosophila development.
Department of Pathology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002467:Cell Nucleus; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry*; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C497169:ftz protein, Drosophila; C499712:nuclear hormone receptor FTZ-F1, Drosophila; D004247:DNA