Identification of regulatory modules mediating specific expression of the roughest gene in Drosophila melanogaster.
Roughest (Rst) is a cell adhesion molecule of the immunoglobulin superfamily with pleiotropic functions during the development of Drosophila melanogaster. It has been shown to be involved in cell sorting before apoptosis in the developing compound eye, in fusion processes of embryonic muscle development and in axonal pathfinding. In accordance with its multiple functions, the rst gene shows a dynamic expression pattern throughout the development of Drosophila. In order to understand the transcriptional regulation of rst expression we have identified rst cis regulatory sequences in an enhancer detection screen. By dissection of the identified rst cis regulatory sequences we identified several distinct rst regulatory modules. Among others these include elements for expression in interommatidial cells of the pupal eye disc at a time when apoptotic decisions are made in these cells and elements for expression in the embryonic mesoderm. The expression of rst in the embryonic mesoderm is regulated by at least two separate modules.
Institut für Biologie III, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Schänzlestr.1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Holger
H
Apitz
Melanie
M
Kambacheld
Martin
M
Höhne
Ricardo G P
RG
Ramos
Angela
A
Straube
Karl-Friedrich
KF
Fischbach
D000818:Animals; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000502:physiology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D020161:Physical Chromosome Mapping; D024363:Transcription Initiation Site
D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; C085209:rst protein, Drosophila