GAL4 enhancer trap targeting of the Drosophila sex determination gene fruitless.
The fru4 allele of the sex determination gene fruitless is induced by insertion of a P[lacZ,ry+] enhancer trap element. This insert also acts to disrupt expression of the fru P1 promoter derived male-specific proteins, consequently impairing male courtship behavior. fru4 maps less than 2 kb upstream of the fru P3 promoter, whose function is essential for viability. We replaced this insert with a GAL4 element, P[GAL4,w+], recovering two lines with insertions in opposite orientations at the locus, one of which demonstrated fru-specific mutant phenotypes. Reporter expression of these lines recapitulated that of P3- and P4-derived proteins which, when correlated with a developmental and tissue specific survey of fru promoters' activities, uncovered a previously unsuspected complexity of fru regulation. These novel fru alleles provide the tools for manipulation of fru-expressing cells, allowing the consequent effects to be related back to specific fru functions and the regulatory units controlling these activities.
Dornan
Anthony J
AJ
Division of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Gailey
Donald A
DA
Goodwin
Stephen F
SF
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D003380:Courtship; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods*; D017344:Genes, Insect; D006720:Homozygote; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; C080545:GAL4-ftzQ protein, Drosophila; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C103226:fru protein, Drosophila