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The Drosophila posterior-group gene nanos functions by repressing hunchback activity

The Drosophila posterior-group gene nanos functions by repressing hunchback activity THE development of the body plan in the Drosophila embryo depends on the activity of maternal determinants localized at the anterior and posterior of the egg. These activities define both the polarity of the anterior-posterior (AP) axis and the spatial domains of expression of the zygotic gap genes1,2, which in turn control the subsequent steps in segmentation2,3. The nature and mode of action of one anterior determinant, the bicoid(bcd) gene product, has recently been defined4–8, but the posterior determinants are less well characterized. At least seven maternally acting genes are required for posterior development1,9–11. Mutations in these maternal posterior-group genes result in embryos lacking all abdominal segments. Cytoplasmic transplantation studies indicate that the maternally encoded product of the nanos(nos) gene may act as an abdominal determinant, whereas the other maternal posterior-group genes appear to be required for the appropriate localization and stabilization of this signal1,9–12. Here we show that the lack of the nos gene product can be compensated for by eliminating the maternal activity of the gap gene hunchback (hb). Embryos lacking both of these maternally derived gene products are viable and can survive as fertile adults. These results suggest that the nos gene product functions by repressing the activity of the maternal hb products in the posterior of the egg. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Nature Springer Journals

The Drosophila posterior-group gene nanos functions by repressing hunchback activity

Irish, Vivian; Lehmann, Ruth; Akam, Michael
Nature , Volume 338 (6217) – Apr 20, 1989
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References (20)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 1989 by Nature Publishing Group
Subject
Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, multidisciplinary; Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, multidisciplinary; Science, multidisciplinary
ISSN
0028-0836
eISSN
1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/338646a0
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

THE development of the body plan in the Drosophila embryo depends on the activity of maternal determinants localized at the anterior and posterior of the egg. These activities define both the polarity of the anterior-posterior (AP) axis and the spatial domains of expression of the zygotic gap genes1,2, which in turn control the subsequent steps in segmentation2,3. The nature and mode of action of one anterior determinant, the bicoid(bcd) gene product, has recently been defined4–8, but the posterior determinants are less well characterized. At least seven maternally acting genes are required for posterior development1,9–11. Mutations in these maternal posterior-group genes result in embryos lacking all abdominal segments. Cytoplasmic transplantation studies indicate that the maternally encoded product of the nanos(nos) gene may act as an abdominal determinant, whereas the other maternal posterior-group genes appear to be required for the appropriate localization and stabilization of this signal1,9–12. Here we show that the lack of the nos gene product can be compensated for by eliminating the maternal activity of the gap gene hunchback (hb). Embryos lacking both of these maternally derived gene products are viable and can survive as fertile adults. These results suggest that the nos gene product functions by repressing the activity of the maternal hb products in the posterior of the egg.

Journal

Nature – Springer Journals

Published: Apr 20, 1989

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