Ind represses msh expression in the intermediate column of the Drosophila neuroectoderm, through direct interaction with upstream regulatory DNA.
The Drosophila neurectoderm is initially subdivided across the dorsoventral (DV) axis into three domains that are defined by the expression of three homeodomain containing proteins. These are from ventral to dorsal: Ventral nervous system defective (vnd), Intermediate neuroblasts defective (ind) and Muscle segment homeobox (msh). This is remarkably similar to the distribution of the orthologous homeodomain proteins in the developing neural tube of mice and Zebrafish. This pattern is partially governed by a 'ventral dominance' mechanism, in which Vnd represses ind and Ind represses msh. A major unanswered question in this process is: How does Ind direct positioning of the ventral border of msh expression. Toward this goal, we have identified regulatory DNA essential for expression of msh in the early neurectoderm. In addition, we demonstrated that Ind acts directly in this element by a combination of genetic and molecular experiments. Specifically, expression is expanded ventrally in ind mutant embryos and Ind protein directly and specifically bound to the msh regulatory DNA, and this interaction was required to limit the ventral boundary of msh expression.
Von Ohlen
Tonia
T
Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA. tonia@ksu.edu
Moses
Cade
C
Poulson
Will
W
D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D054258:Neural Plate / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
C096010:Dr protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C116352:IND protein, Drosophila; D014157:Transcription Factors; C094797:vnd protein, Drosophila; D004247:DNA