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The regulation of empty spiracles by Abdominal-B mediates an abdominal segment identity function
1Department of Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511.
Genes & Development
|February 1, 1993
Summary
The empty spiracles (ems) gene is regulated by the Abdominal-B (Abd-B) homeotic gene. This interaction is crucial for developing specific structures in Drosophila embryos.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Genetics
- Molecular biology
Background:
- The empty spiracles (ems) homeo box gene is essential for Drosophila larval filzkörper development.
- Filzkörper development in the eighth abdominal segment also relies on the homeotic selector gene Abdominal-B (Abd-B).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the regulatory relationship between ems and Abd-B in Drosophila development.
- To elucidate the role of Abd-B in the transcriptional regulation of ems.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of cis-regulatory elements controlling ems expression.
- Genetic epistasis tests to determine gene function order.
Main Results:
- Ems is transcriptionally regulated by Abd-B proteins.
- An Abd-B-dependent cis-regulatory element controls ems activation in the eighth abdominal segment.
- Ems and Abd-B function together for filzkörper primordia specification.
Conclusions:
- Abd-B acts upstream of ems in a regulatory hierarchy.
- Homeotic genes regulate downstream transcription factors that define subsegmental identities.