neuralized functions cell-autonomously to regulate a subset of notch-dependent processes during adult Drosophila development.
neuralized (neu) represents one of the strong neurogenic mutants in Drosophila. Mutants of this class display, among other phenotypes, a strong overcommitment to neural fates at the expense of epidermal fates. We analyzed the role of neu during adult development by using mutant clonal analysis, misexpression of wild-type and truncated forms of Neu, and examination of genetic interactions with N-pathway mutations. We find that neu is required cell-autonomously for lateral inhibition during peripheral neurogenesis and for multiple asymmetric cell divisions in the sensory lineage. In contrast, neu is apparently dispensable for other N-mediated processes, including lateral inhibition during wing vein development and wing margin induction. Misexpression of wild-type Neu causes defects in both peripheral neurogenesis and wing vein development, while a truncated form lacking the RING finger is further capable of inhibiting formation of the wing margin. In addition, the phenotypes produced by misexpression of wild-type and truncated Neu proteins are sensitive to the dosage of several N-pathway components. Finally, using epitope-tagged Neu proteins, we localize Neu to the plasma membrane and reveal a novel morphology to the sensory organ precursor cells of wing imaginal discs. Collectively, these data indicate a key role for neu in the reception of the lateral inhibitory signal during peripheral neurogenesis.
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Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, 539 Life Sciences Addition, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Rubin
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GM
D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000254:growth & development*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D008025:Ligases; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000254:growth & development; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000254:growth & development
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C497759:N protein, Drosophila; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; C071006:neur protein, Drosophila; D008025:Ligases