The role of homeotic genes in determining the segmental pattern of chordotonal organs in Drosophila.
The homeotic genes are instrumental in establishing segment-specific characteristics. In Drosophila embryos there is ample evidence that the homeotic genes are involved in establishing the differences in the pattern of sense organs between segments. The chordotonal organs are compound sense organs made up of several stretch receptive sensilla. A set of serially homologous chordotonal organs, lch3 in the 1st thoracic segment, dch3 in the 2nd and 3rd thoracic segments and lch5 in abdominal segments 1 to 7, is composed of different numbers of sensilla with different positions and orientations. Here we examine this set of sense organs and a companion set, vchA/B and veh1, in the wild type and mutants for Sexcombs reduced, Antennapedia, Ultrabithorax, and abdominal-A, using immunostaining. Mutant phenotypes indicate that Ultrabithorax and abdominal-A in particular influence the formation of these sense organs. Differential expression of abdominal-A and Ultrabithorax within compartments of individual parasegments can precisely modulate the types of sense organs that will arise from a segment.
Wong
Darren C C
DC
School of Life Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Merritt
David J
DJ
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D051943:Antennapedia Homeodomain Protein; D019521:Body Patterning; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D012677:Sensation; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors
C410542:Abd-A protein, insect; D051943:Antennapedia Homeodomain Protein; C497974:Antp protein, Drosophila; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C059627:Scr protein, Drosophila; D014157:Transcription Factors; C066177:Ubx protein, Drosophila