The serpent gene is necessary for progression through the early stages of fat-body development.
The serpent (srp) gene, also known as ABF, codes for a GATA-like transcription factor and is involved in the transcription activation of Adh in the larval fat body or adipose tissue. Here, we describe the tissue-specific distribution of SRP protein in various stages of embryonic development and describe srp's role in early fat-cell development. SRP protein was detected in the progenitor fat-body cells and is present in the developing fat-body cells and in the mature embryonic fat body. An analysis of srp embryos revealed a gradual loss of precursor fat cells that is likely due to apoptosis. Within the fat-cell lineage, srp is necessary for progression through early stages of fat-cell development and may be involved in the transactivation of genes necessary for fat-cell differentiation.
Sam
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Department of Biological Sciences, University of Nevada at Las Vegas 89154-4004, USA.
Leise
W
W
Hoshizaki
D K
DK
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D005216:Fat Body / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D050980:GATA Transcription Factors; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009154:Mutation; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D050980:GATA Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; C103965:srp protein, Drosophila