title: Gap peptides: A new way to control embryonic patterning?
abstract: Gap genes encode transcription factors involved in the patterning of the head-tail axis of insect embryos. In this issue of Cell, Savard et al. (2006) identify a beetle gap gene, mille-pattes, that encodes an unusual polycistronic transcript predicted to produce four conserved peptides. These results have interesting implications for the control of embryonic patterning in insects.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Ella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tour
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McGinnis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D007313:Insecta / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000235:genetics; D020703:ras GTPase-Activating Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D014157:Transcription Factors; D020703:ras GTPase-Activating Proteins; D012313:RNA