Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026
07:18
Visualization of DNA Replication in the Vertebrate Model System DT40 using the DNA Fiber Technique
Published on: October 27, 2011
Structure-specific abnormalities associated with mutations in a DNA replication accessory factor in Drosophila
1Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
Developmental Biology
|February 13, 2001
Summary
The Drosophila cutlet gene is crucial for cell growth and DNA replication, impacting the development of adult tissues like the eye and wing. Mutations disrupt development by affecting cell growth in precursor tissues.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The cutlet locus in Drosophila controls tissue development.
- Cell growth is essential for the formation of adult structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To phenotypically and molecularly analyze the cutlet locus in Drosophila.
- To understand the role of cutlet in cell growth and tissue development.
Main Methods:
- Phenotypic analysis of homozygous cutlet flies.
- Molecular analysis of the cutlet gene.
- Genetic interaction studies with replication factor C subunits.
Main Results:
- Homozygous cutlet flies show abnormal development in tissues such as the eye, wing, and ovary.
- Defects in cell growth were observed in all developing precursor tissues of cutlet mutants.
- The cutlet gene encodes a homologue of yeast CHL12 and is similar to mammalian replication factor C.
- cutlet genetically interacts with subunits of Drosophila replication factor C.
Conclusions:
- The cutlet gene product functions as an accessory factor for DNA replication.
- cutlet has varying requirements for the development of different adult structures in Drosophila.
- Disruptions in cutlet function lead to pleiotropic developmental defects due to impaired cell growth.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:02The DNA Replication Fork
An organism’s genome needs to be duplicated in an efficient and error-free manner for its growth and survival. The replication fork is a Y-shaped active region where two strands of DNA are separated and replicated continuously. The coupling of DNA unzipping and complementary strand synthesis is a characteristic feature of a replication fork. Organisms with small circular DNA, such as E. coli, often have a single origin of replication; therefore, they have only two replication forks, one in...
03:01The Replisome
DNA replication is carried out by a large complex of proteins that act in a coordinated matter to achieve high-fidelity DNA replication. Together this complex is known as the DNA replication machinery or the replisome.
The synthesis of the leading and lagging strands is a highly coordinated process. To explain this, the “Trombone model” was proposed by Bruce Alberts in 1980. The DNA loop formation starts when a primer is synthesized on the parent lagging strand. The loop grows with the...
The synthesis of the leading and lagging strands is a highly coordinated process. To explain this, the “Trombone model” was proposed by Bruce Alberts in 1980. The DNA loop formation starts when a primer is synthesized on the parent lagging strand. The loop grows with the...
02:36DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle
In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
02:37Restarting Stalled Replication Forks
DNA replication is initiated at sites containing predefined DNA sequences known as origins of replication. DNA is unwound at these sites by the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase and other factors such as Cdc45 and the associated GINS complex.The unwound single strands are protected by replication protein A (RPA) until DNA polymerase starts synthesizing DNA at the 5’ end of the strand in the same direction as the replication fork. To prevent the replication fork from falling apart, a...
02:38S-Cdk Initiates DNA Replication
The cell cycle is a series of events leading to DNA duplication followed by the division of cell content to form two daughter cells. The cell cycle progresses in four stages—the cell increases in size (gap 1 or G1-phase), duplicates its DNA (synthesis or S-phase), prepares to divide (gap 2 or G2-phase), and divides (mitosis or M-phase).
Two states at the origin of replication
In eukaryotes, the initiation of replication occurs at many sites on the chromosomes, called the origins of replication.
Two states at the origin of replication
In eukaryotes, the initiation of replication occurs at many sites on the chromosomes, called the origins of replication.
02:36DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle
In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...