Runt determines cell fates in the Drosophila embryonic CNS.
The segmentation gene, runt, is expressed by a subset of the 30 neuroblasts that give rise to each neuromere of the Drosophila embryo. Runt activity in the neuroblasts is necessary for expression of even-skipped in the EL neurons. runt is therefore a good candidate for a gene specifying neuroblast identities. We have ectopically expressed Runt in restricted subsets of neuroblasts and show that Runt is sufficient to activate even-skipped expression in the progeny of specific neuroblasts. Using the marker Tau-green fluorescent protein to highlight the axons, we have found that the extra Even-skipped-expressing neurons project axons along the same pathway as the EL neurons. We find that Runt is expressed in neuroblast 3-3, supporting an autonomous role for runt during neuroblast specification.
Dormand
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EL
Wellcome/CRC Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Brand
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AH
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001369:Axons; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000737:chemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C052837:eve protein, Drosophila; C080833:run protein, Drosophila