A gain-of-function screen identifying genes required for growth and pattern formation of the Drosophila melanogaster wing.
The Drosophila melanogaster wing is a model system for analyzing the genetic control of organ size, shape, and pattern formation. The formation of the wing involves a variety of processes, such as cell growth, proliferation, pattern formation, and differentiation. These developmental processes are under genetic control, and many genes participating in specific aspects of wing development have already being characterized. In this work, we aim to identify novel genes regulating wing growth and patterning. To this end, we have carried out a gain-of-function screen generating novel P-UAS (upstream activating sequences) insertions allowing forced gene expression. We produced 3,340 novel P-UAS insertions and isolated 300 that cause a variety of wing phenotypes in combination with a Gal4 driver expressed exclusively in the central domain of the presumptive wing blade. The mapping of these P-UAS insertion sites allowed us to identify the gene that causes the gain-of-function phenotypes. We show that a fraction of these phenotypes are related to the induction of cell death in the domain of ectopic gene expression. Finally, we present a preliminary characterization of a gene identified in the screen, the function of which is required for the development of the L5 longitudinal vein.
Cruz
Cristina
C
Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CBMSO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain.
Glavic
Alvaro
A
Casado
Mar
M
de Celis
Jose F
JF
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018010:Receptors, Invertebrate Peptide / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C497759:N protein, Drosophila; D018010:Receptors, Invertebrate Peptide; D051880:Receptors, Notch; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila; C066532:Egfr protein, Drosophila; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C110854:puc protein, Drosophila; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases