Mutual regulation of the Drosophila disconnected (disco) and Distal-less (Dll) genes contributes to proximal-distal patterning of antenna and leg.
The Drosophila disconnected (disco) gene encodes a C(2)H(2)-type zinc finger transcription factor required for the development of the central and peripheral nervous systems. We report that disco participates in a positive feedback loop with the Dll gene, a master regulator of ventral appendage development. Dll function is not only required for proper disco expression in antenna and leg discs, but is also sufficient for ectopic expression of disco in the developing retina and wing imaginal discs. Conversely, disco gene function is required for the maintenance of Dll expression. We show that Dll phenotypes are partially rescued by the up-regulation of disco expression in the Dll domain. Reduction in disco gene function disrupts antenna and leg development, and the phenotypes closely resemble that produced by Dll alleles. These observations demonstrate that disco plays a fundamental role in the Dll-dependent patterning of antenna and leg, perhaps as a regulator of Dll gene expression.
Dey
Bijan Kumar
BK
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
Zhao
Xiao-Li
XL
Popo-Ola
Emmanuel
E
Campos
Ana Regina
AR
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D005121:Extremities / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017344:Genes, Insect; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D012160:Retina / Q000196:embryology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000196:embryology
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C400212:disco protein, Drosophila; C117261:distal-less protein, insect