Control of distal antennal identity and tarsal development in Drosophila by spineless-aristapedia, a homolog of the mammalian dioxin receptor.

ABSTRACT: We report the molecular characterization of the spineless (ss) gene of Drosophila, and present evidence that it plays a central role in defining the distal regions of both the antenna and leg. ss encodes the closest known homolog of the mammalian dioxin receptor, a transcription factor of the bHLH-PAS family. Loss-of-function alleles of ss cause three major phenotypes: transformation of distal antenna to leg, deletion of distal leg (tarsal) structures, and reduction in size of most bristles. Consistent with these phenotypes, ss is expressed in the distal portion of the antennal imaginal disc, the tarsal region of each leg disc, and in bristle precursor cells. Ectopic expression of ss causes transformation of the maxillary palp and distal leg to distal antenna, and induces formation of an e

SUBMITTER: Duncan DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC316766 | biostudies-literature | 1998 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature