Integration of an abdominal Hox complex with Pax2 yields cell-specific EGF secretion from Drosophila sensory precursor cells.

ABSTRACT: Cis-regulatory modules (CRMs) ensure specific developmental outcomes by mediating both proper spatiotemporal gene expression patterns and appropriate transcriptional levels. In Drosophila, the precise transcriptional control of the serine protease rhomboid regulates EGF signaling to specify distinct cell types. Recently, we identified a CRM that activates rhomboid expression and thereby EGF secretion from a subset of abdominal sensory organ precursor cells (SOPs) to induce an appropriate number of lipid-processing cells called oenocytes. Here, we use scanning mutagenesis coupled with reporter assays, biochemistry and genetics to dissect the transcriptional mechanisms regulating SOP-specific rhomboid activation. Our results show that proper spatial activity of the rhomboid CRM is dependent

SUBMITTER: Li-Kroeger D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3317967 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature