Odd-skipped genes specify the signaling center that triggers retinogenesis in Drosophila.
Although many of the factors responsible for conferring identity to the eye field in Drosophila have been identified, much less is known about how the expression of the retinal ;trigger', the signaling molecule Hedgehog, is controlled. Here, we show that the co-expression of the conserved odd-skipped family genes at the posterior margin of the eye field is required to activate hedgehog expression and thereby the onset of retinogenesis. The fly Wnt1 homologue wingless represses the odd-skipped genes drm and odd along the anterior margin and, in this manner, spatially restricts the extent of retinal differentiation within the eye field.
Bras-Pereira
Catarina
C
CABD-Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, UPO-CSIC, Sevilla 41013, Spain.
Bessa
Jose
J
Casares
Fernando
F
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D004628:Embryonic Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017344:Genes, Insect; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; D016335:Zinc Fingers
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C103175:Sob protein, Drosophila; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; C100532:bowl protein, Drosophila; C465762:drm protein, Drosophila; C074622:wg protein, Drosophila; C066735:odd protein, Drosophila; C077245:hh protein, Drosophila