The mesodermal expression of rolling stone (rost) is essential for myoblast fusion in Drosophila and encodes a potential transmembrane protein.

ABSTRACT: In homozygous rolling stone embryos, the fusion of myoblasts to syncytial myotubes is diminished. Nevertheless, the visceral mesoderm, the heart mesoderm, and few somatic muscles are properly formed. Thus, we postulate a central role of rolling stone for the fusion process within the somatic mesoderm. We have cloned the rolling stone gene, and the deduced protein sequence is in accordance with a transmembrane protein, which agrees with the enrichment of Rost in the membrane fraction of Drosophila embryos. No homologous genes have been described so far. rolling stone is expressed in the embryonic nervous system and cells of the somatic mesoderm, most notable in muscle founder cells. To elucidate the function of rolling stone for myoblast fusion, we applied a knock-out strategy. The expressi

SUBMITTER: Paululat A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2138187 | biostudies-literature | 1997 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature