title: Extramacrochaetae, a trans-acting gene of the achaete-scute complex of Drosophila involved in cell communication.
abstract: Phenotypic analyses of genetic combinations involving the gene extramacrochaetae (emc) reveal its participation in the differentiation of both sensory elements and wing veins. The study of near-amorphic alleles of emc in mitotitc recombination clones indicates that it also affects cell proliferation. These clones show abnormal sizes, shapes and spatial distribution. They differentiate extra sensory elements as well as extra veins. A gain of function mutation in the gene causes opposite phenotypes in both differentiation systems. The effects of the mutant on proliferation and patterning are consistent with the emc gene being involved in the transfer of information between neighbouring cells, which leads to the spatial expression of the achaetescute gene complex and genes involved in vein formation.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biologia Molecular C.S.I.C., Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, E-28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis A García
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biologia Molecular C.S.I.C., Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, E-28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Bellido
keywords: Cell communication; Cell differentiation; Pattern formation; Trans-regulatory genes