Analysis of Drosophila salivary gland, epidermis and CNS development suggests an additional function of brinker in anterior-posterior cell fate specification.
Salivary glands are simple structured organs which can serve as a model system in the study of organogenesis. Following a large EMS mutagenesis we have identified a number of genes required for normal salivary gland development. Mutations in the locus small salivary glands-1 (ssg-1) lead to a drastic reduction in the size of the salivary glands. The gene ssg-1 was cloned and subsequent sequence and genetic analysis showed identity to the recently published gene brinker. The salivary gland placode in brinker mutants appears reduced along both the anterior-posterior and dorso-ventral axis. Analysis of the brinker cuticle phenotype revealed a similar loss of anterior-posterior as well as lateral cell fates. The abdominal ventral denticle belts show a reduced number of setae in the first denticle row. Furthermore, we observed a preferential loss of lateral neuroblasts in the anterior parasegment. Together, these phenotypes suggest that brinker not only plays a role in dorso-ventral but also in anterior-posterior axis patterning.
Lammel
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Institut für Biologie, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Chausseestrasse 117, D-10115 Berlin, Germany. lammel@uni-muenster.de
Meadows
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Saumweber
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D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D004627:Embryonic Induction / Q000235:genetics; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000196:embryology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D014157:Transcription Factors
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C118082:brk protein, Drosophila; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila; C098694:eg protein, Drosophila; C052837:eve protein, Drosophila; C053476:invasin, Yersinia