title: The elimination of an adult segment by the Hox gene Abdominal-B.
abstract: Hox gene activity leads to morphological diversity of organs or structures in different species. One special case of Hox function is the elimination of a particular structure. The Abdominal-B Hox gene of Drosophila melanogaster provides an example of such activity, as this gene suppresses the formation of the seventh abdominal segment in the adult. This elimination occurs only in males, and is characteristic of more advanced Diptera. The elimination requires the differential expression or activity of genes that are downstream Abdominal-B, or that work together with it, and which regulate cell proliferation or cell extrusion. Here, we review the mechanisms responsible for such elimination and provide some new data on processes taking place within this segment.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Nicolás Cabrera 1, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Foronda
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Nicolás Cabrera 1, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Curt
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Nicolás Cabrera 1, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Nicolás Cabrera 1, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Nicolás Cabrera 1, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: esherrero@cbm.csic.es.
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Herrero
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000196:embryology*; D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000235:genetics*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Abdomen; Abdominal-B; Drosophila; Hox genes