title: Mastermind mutations generate a unique constellation of midline cells within the Drosophila CNS.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Notch pathway functions repeatedly during the development of the central nervous system in metazoan organisms to control cell fate and regulate cell proliferation and asymmetric cell divisions. Within the Drosophila midline cell lineage, which bisects the two symmetrical halves of the central nervous system, Notch is required for initial cell specification and subsequent differentiation of many midline lineages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here, we provide the first description of the role of the Notch co-factor, mastermind, in the central nervous system midline of Drosophila. Overall, zygotic mastermind mutations cause an increase in midline cell number and decrease in midline cell diversity. Compared to mutations in other components of the Notch signaling pathway, such as Notch itself and Delta, zygotic mutations in mastermind cause the production of a unique constellation of midline cell types. The major difference is that midline glia form normally in zygotic mastermind mutants, but not in Notch and Delta mutants. Moreover, during late embryogenesis, extra anterior midline glia survive in zygotic mastermind mutants compared to wild type embryos.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is an example of a mutation in a signaling pathway cofactor producing a distinct central nervous system phenotype compared to mutations in major components of the pathway.
authors: Department of Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Randi
authors: R
authors: Wheatley
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Fulkerson
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Tapp
authors: Patricia A
authors: PA
authors: Estes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D047108:Embryonic Development; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch; C085316:mam protein, Drosophila