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Differential requirements for the neurogenic gene almondex during Drosophila melanogaster development
Author(s) -
Michellod MarieAgnès,
Forquig Françoise,
Santamaria Pedro,
Randsholt Neel B.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/gene.10233
Subject(s) - drosophila melanogaster , biology , gene , drosophila (subgenus) , differential (mechanical device) , genetics , physics , thermodynamics
During early development, the neurogenic genes of Drosophila melanogaster are involved in the control of cell fates in the neurectoderm; almondex ( amx ) belongs to this category of genes. We have identified the amx locus and rescued the amx embryonic neurogenic phenotype with a 1.5 kb DNA fragment. Using a small deficiency, we generated a new amx mutant background called amx m , which is a null allele. Besides the characteristic neurogenic maternal effect caused by loss of amx, amx m flies display a new imaginal phenotype resembling loss of function of Notch . We describe amx ‐induced misregulation of the Notch pathway target E(spl) m7 in embryos and genetic interactions between amx and Notch pathway mutants in adult flies. These data show that wildtype amx acts as a novel positive regulator of the Notch pathway and is required at different levels during development. genesis 37:113–122, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.