Cut mutant Drosophila auditory organs differentiate abnormally and degenerate

The Drosophila antenna is a sophisticated structure that functions in both olfaction and audition. Previous studies have identified Homothorax, Extradenticle, and Distal-less, three homeodomain transcription factors, as required for specification of antennal identity. Antennal expression of cut is activated by Homothorax and Extradenticle, and repressed by Distal-less. cut encodes the Drosophila homolog of human CAAT-displacement protein, a cell cycle-regulated homeodomain transcription factor. Cut is required for normal development of external mechanosensory structures and Malphigian tubules (kidney analogs). The role of cut in the Drosophila auditory organ, Johnston's organ, has not been characterized. We have employed the FLP/FRT system to generate cut null clones in developing Johnston's organ. In cut mutants, the scolopidial subunits that constitute Johnston's organ differentiate abnormally and subsequently degenerate. Electrophysiological experiments confirm that adult Drosophila with cut null antennae are deaf. We find that cut acts in parallel to atonal, spalt-major, and spalt-related, which encode other transcription factors required for Johnston's organ differentiation. We speculate that Cut functions in conjunction with these factors to regulate transcription of as yet unidentified targets.