The Drosophila SOX-domain protein Dichaete is required for the development of the central nervous system midline.
SOX-domain proteins are a class of developmentally important transcriptional regulators related to the mammalian testis determining factor SRY. In common with other SOX-domain genes, the Drosophila Dichaete gene has a dynamic expression profile in the developing central nervous system, including cells of the ventral midline. We find defects in the differentiation of midline glia and concomitant axonal defects in Dichaete mutants that are rescued by driving Dichaete expression in the midline. Since Dichaete is required for the correct specification or differentiation of midline glia, we have used the ventral midline as a model system to study SOX gene function in vivo and demonstrate a genetic interaction between Dichaete and the POU domain gene ventral veinless. In mammals, a protein related to Dichaete, SOX2, also interacts with POU transcription factors. The midline phenotypes of Dichaete mutations are rescued by expression of mouse SOX2. Our data suggest that SOX gene structure, function and interactions have been conserved during evolution.
Soriano
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NS
Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK.
Russell
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S
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D019521:Body Patterning; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D017344:Genes, Insect; D024002:HMGB Proteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D050809:POU Domain Factors; D010641:Phenotype; D055747:SOX Transcription Factors; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; C103073:D protein, Drosophila; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D024002:HMGB Proteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D050809:POU Domain Factors; D055747:SOX Transcription Factors; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; C527783:Sox2 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; C066819:sli protein, Drosophila; C091575:vvl protein, Drosophila; C075638:aos protein, Drosophila