A broad  expression profile of the GMR-GAL4 driver in Drosophila melanogaster.
The  GAL4/UAS binary system has been widely used in Drosophila  melanogaster for ectopic expression of transgenes in a tissue-specific  manner. The GMR-GAL4 driver, which expresses the yeast transcription  factor GAL4 under the control of glass multiple reporter (GMR) promoter  elements, has been commonly utilized to express target transgenes, specifically  in the developing eye. However, we have observed abnormal wing phenotypes; this  is a result of the activity of critical wing developing genes, e.g., components  of the Notch or Wg pathway, that are up- or down-regulated under the control of  the GMR-GAL4 driver. X-gal staining confirmed that UAS-LacZ is  expressed in third-instar larva wing imaginal discs, as well as in eye discs,  when driven by the GMR-GAL4 driver. Furthermore, we found that GMR-GAL4  also drives UAS-LacZ expression in other tissues, such as brain,  trachea, and leg discs. These results indicate that GMR-GAL4 has a broad  expression profile, rather than the eye-specific pattern described previously,  and that one should be careful when using it as a tool for targeted gene  expression.
Shanghai Key Laboratory for Signaling and Diseases, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
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D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D005123:Eye / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D010641:Phenotype; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D051155:Wnt1 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C557617:GAL4 protein, Drosophila; C497759:N protein, Drosophila; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; C074622:wg protein, Drosophila