Temporal comparison of Broad-Complex expression during eggshell-appendage patterning and morphogenesis in two Drosophila species with different eggshell-appendage numbers.
A central question in biology is how developmental mechanisms are altered to bring about morphological evolution. Drosophilids boast a remarkable diversity in eggshell-appendage number-from as few as one to as many as nine, depending on the species. Appendage patterning in Drosophila melanogaster is well characterized, inviting candidate-gene-based approaches that identify the developmental mechanisms underlying Drosophilid eggshell diversity. Previous studies show that a combination of Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and TGFbeta/BMP2,4 Decapentaplegic (DPP) signaling determines appendage fate in D. melanogaster. Broad-Complex expression integrates EGFR and DPP signaling and predicts future appendage position. Here we present our confocal analyses of BR-C immunofluorescence and appendage morphogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster (two appendages) and Drosophila virilis (four appendages). Our comparison suggests that differences in BR-C patterns among Drosophilids may be strongly influenced by anterior-posterior information.
James
Karen E
KE
Department of Genome Sciences, Box 357730, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7730, USA.
Berg
Celeste A
CA
D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D019521:Body Patterning; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009024:Morphogenesis; D013045:Species Specificity; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
C102117:Br protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors