Tramtrack co-operates to prevent inappropriate neural development in Drosophila.
Each sensory organ of the Drosophila peripheral nervous system is derived from a single sensory organ precursor cell (SOP). These originate in territories defined by expression of the proneural genes of the Achaete-Scute complex (AS-C). Formation of ectopic sensilla outside these regions is prevented by transcriptional repression of proneural genes. We demonstrate that the BTB/POZ-domain transcriptional repressor Tramtrack (Ttk) co-operates in this repression. Ttk is expressed ubiquitously, except in proneural clusters and SOPs. Ttk over-expression represses proneural genes and sensilla formation. Loss of Ttk enhances bristle-promoting mutants. Using neural repression as an assay, we dissected functional domains of Ttk, confirming the importance of the bric-à-brac-tramtrack-broad complex (BTB) motif. We show that the Ttk BTB domain is a protein-protein interaction motif mediating tetramer formation.
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QH, England, UK. badenhop@pop.nci.nih.gov
Paul
P
Badenhorst
John T
JT
Finch
Andrew A
AA
Travers
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017344:Genes, Insect; D008297:Male; D016296:Mutagenesis; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012679:Sense Organs / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C075878:ttk protein, Drosophila