Evolutionary conservation of otd/Otx2 transcription factor action: a genome-wide microarray analysis in Drosophila.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Homeobox genes of the orthodenticle (otd)/Otx family have conserved roles in the embryogenesis of head and brain. Gene replacement experiments show that the Drosophila otd gene and orthologous mammalian Otx genes are functionally equivalent, in that overexpression of either gene in null mutants of Drosophila or mouse can restore defects in cephalic and brain development. This suggests that otd and Otx genes control a comparable subset of downstream target genes in either organism. Here we use quantitative transcript imaging to analyze this equivalence of otd and Otx gene action at a genomic level.

Results

Oligonucleotide arrays representing 13,400 annotated Drosophila genes were used to study differential gene expression in flies in which either the Drosophila otd

SUBMITTER: Montalta-He H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC115189 | biostudies-literature | 2002

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature