title: Nitric oxide directly regulates gene expression during Drosophila development: need some gas to drive into metamorphosis?
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is an important second messenger involved in numerous biological processes, but how it regulates gene expression is not well understood. In this issue of Genes & Development, Cáceres and colleagues (pp. 1476-1485) report a critical requirement of NO as a direct regulator of gene expression through its binding to a heme-containing nuclear receptor in Drosophila. This may be an anciently evolved mechanism to coordinate behavior and metabolism during animal development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamanaka
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D026461:Ecdysteroids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C087173:E75 protein, insect; D026461:Ecdysteroids; D019476:Insect Proteins; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; C080885:nuclear hormone receptor FTZ-F1 beta, Drosophila; D009569:Nitric Oxide