The selector gene cut represses a neural cell fate that is specified independently of the Achaete-Scute-Complex and atonal.
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) of Drosophila offers a powerful system to precisely identify individual cells and dissect their genetic pathways of development. The mode of specification of a subset of larval PNS cells, the multiple dendritic (md) neurons (or type II neurons), is complex and still poorly understood. Within the dorsal thoracic and abdominal segments, two md neurons, dbd and dda1, apparently require the proneural gene amos but not atonal (ato) or Achaete-Scute-Complex (ASC) genes. ASC normally acts via the neural selector gene cut to specify appropriate sensory organ identities. Here, we show that dbd- and dda1-type differentiation is suppressed by cut in dorsal ASC-dependent md neurons. Thus, cut is not only required to promote an ASC-dependent mode of differentiation, but also represses an ASC- and ato-independent fate that leads to dbd and dda1 differentiation.
Brewster
R
R
Department of Biology, The University of Michigan, 830 North University, 48109-1048, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Hardiman
K
K
Deo
M
M
Khan
S
S
Bodmer
R
R
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000196:embryology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D014157:Transcription Factors; C497759:N protein, Drosophila; C089199:ac protein, Drosophila; C082142:ato protein, Drosophila; C066381:ct protein, Drosophila; C089197:sc protein, Drosophila