title: The Drosophila dCREB-A gene is required for dorsal/ventral patterning of the larval cuticle.
abstract: We report on the characterization of the first loss-of-function mutation in a Drosophila CREB gene, dCREB-A. In the epidermis, dCREB-A is required for patterning cuticular structures on both dorsal and ventral surfaces since dCREB-A mutant larvae have only lateral structures around the entire circumference of each segment. Based on results from epistasis tests with known dorsal/ventral patterning genes, we propose that dCREB-A encodes a transcription factor that functions near the end of both the DPP- and SPI-signaling cascades to translate the corresponding extracellular signals into changes in gene expression. The lateralizing phenotype of dCREB-A mutants reveals a much broader function for CREB proteins than previously thought.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205-2196, USA. debbie_andrew@qmail.bs.jhu.edu
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Andrew
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baig
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhanot
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Smolik
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Henderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D051699:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein A; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D004627:Embryonic Induction; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D017344:Genes, Insect; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D006720:Homozygote; D007814:Larva; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: C073555:CrebA protein, Drosophila; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D051699:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein A; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors