Premium
The transcription factor D‐Pax2 regulates crystallin production during eye development in Drosophila melanogaster
Author(s) -
Dziedzic Katharine,
Heaphy Julie,
Prescott Hallie,
Kavaler Joshua
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.22082
Subject(s) - biology , eye development , drosophila melanogaster , crystallin , microbiology and biotechnology , transcription factor , compound eye , morphogenesis , bristle , lens (geology) , genetics , gene , regulation of gene expression , loss function , phenotype , optics , engineering , paleontology , physics , brush , electrical engineering
The generation of a functioning Drosophila eye requires the coordinated differentiation of multiple cell types and the morphogenesis of eye‐specific structures. Here we show that D‐Pax2 plays a significant role in lens development through regulation of the Crystallin gene and because Crystallin is also expressed in D‐Pax2 + cells in the external sensory organs. Loss of D‐Pax2 function leads to loss of Crystallin expression in both eyes and bristles. A 2.3 kilobase (kb) upstream region of the Crystallin gene can drive GFP expression in the eye and is dependent on D‐Pax2. In addition, D‐Pax2 binds to an evolutionarily conserved site in this region that, by itself, is sufficient to drive GFP expression in the eye. However, mutation of this site does not greatly affect the regulatory region's function. The data indicate that D‐Pax2 acts to promote lens development by controlling the production of the major protein component of the lens. Whether this control is direct or indirect remains unresolved. Developmental Dynamics 238:2530–2539, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.