Spatial and temporal analysis of the Drosophila FMRFamide neuropeptide gene product SDNFMRFamide: evidence for a restricted expression pattern.
The expression of SDNFMRFamide, one of five different FMRFamide-containing peptides encoded by the Drosophila melanogaster FMRFamide gene, has been determined. To study expression, we generated antisera to the N-terminus of SDNFMRFamide to avoid crossreactivity with FMRFamide-containing peptides. The antisera were purified and the specificity characterized. SDNFMRFamide immunoreactive material is present in the central nervous system throughout development. Immunoreactivity is first observed in embryonic neural tissue in a cluster of cells in the subesophageal ganglion and immunoreactive fibers projecting from these cells to the brain and ventral ganglion. This pattern of expression is also observed in neural tissue dissected from larva, pupa, and adult. Double-labelling experiments indicate that cells recognized by SDNFM-antisera are also stained with FMRFamide antisera. Based on position, SDNFMRFamide immunoreactive material is expressed in a limited number of cells that contain the FMRFamide polypeptide precursor. This finding suggests that the Drosophila FMRFamide precursor undergoes differential post-translational processing.
Nichols
R
R
Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-1048, USA.
McCormick
J B
JB
Lim
I A
IA
Starkman
J S
JS
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D019835:FMRFamide; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007447:Invertebrate Hormones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000502:physiology; D011679:Pupa
D007447:Invertebrate Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; C098192:SDNFMRFamide; D019835:FMRFamide