SHORTVEIN, A NEW COMPONENT OF THE DECAPENTAPLEGIC GENE COMPLEX IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Daniel Segal ¹ and William M. Gelbart ²

¹ Department of Cellular, The Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Massachusetts 02138-2097
² Department of Developmental Biology, The Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Massachusetts 02138-2097

Our laboratory has been concerned with the structure and function of the decapentaplegic gene complex (DPP-C) in Drosophila melanogaster . To define the boundaries of the complex, we have studied the genetics of mutations allelic to a previously discovered mutation shortvein (shv ), known to reside near decapentaplegic. We found that shortvein resides distal to Hin-d and dpp within the same polytene chromosome doublet, 22F1-2. Lesions in shv can affect not only the formation of the wing veins but also can interfere with normal development of parts of the adult and/or be lethal. Like those of dpp mutants, the shv-associated adult abnormalities affect distal epidermal structures. Some shv lesions cause a larval lethal syndrome which is associated with an unusually long larval stage (ca. five to six times its normal duration). Lesions in shv exhibit an involved pattern of complementation with dpp mutations, indicating that both shv and dpp are parts of a single gene complex. A subset of the array of mutant phenotypes displayed by shv/dpp trans-heterozygotes appear to be dpp-specific phenotypes; we interpret these as reflecting an inactivation effect of certain shv alleles on dpp functions. The other abnormalities displayed by these trans-heterozygotes appear to be shv-specific defects; we view these as indicating an inactivation effect of certain dpp mutations on shv functions. Furthermore, embryonic lethal (EL) mutations within the DPP-C exhibit allelic interactions with all shv mutations. We conclude that the shortvein region represents a newly identified integrated portion of the DPP-C.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. N. Johnson, L. A. Burnett, J. Sellin, A. Paululat, and S. J. Newfeld Defective Decapentaplegic Signaling Results in Heart Overgrowth and Reduced Cardiac Output in Drosophila Genetics, July 1, 2007; 176(3): 1609 - 1624. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. A. Zeng, M. Rahnama, S. Wang, W. Sosu-Sedzorme, and E. M. Verheyen Drosophila Nemo antagonizes BMP signaling by phosphorylation of Mad and inhibition of its nuclear accumulation Development, June 1, 2007; 134(11): 2061 - 2071. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Yu, K.-H. Kang, P. Heine, U. Pyati, S. Srinivasan, B. Biehs, D. Kimelman, and E. Bier Cysteine Repeat Domains and Adjacent Sequences Determine Distinct Bone Morphogenetic Protein Modulatory Activities of the Drosophila Sog Protein Genetics, March 1, 2004; 166(3): 1323 - 1336. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. K. Clay and T. Nelson VH1, a Provascular Cell-Specific Receptor Kinase That Influences Leaf Cell Patterns in Arabidopsis PLANT CELL, November 1, 2002; 14(11): 2707 - 2722. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. P. Ray and K. A. Wharton Context-dependent relationships between the BMPs gbb and dpp during development of the Drosophila wing imaginal disk Development, October 15, 2001; 128(20): 3913 - 3925. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Yu, S. Srinivasan, O. Shimmi, B. Biehs, K. E. Rashka, D. Kimelman, M. B. O'Connor, and E. Bier Processing of the Drosophila Sog protein creates a novel BMP inhibitory activity Development, May 15, 2000; 127(10): 2143 - 2154. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J Curtiss and M Mlodzik Morphogenetic furrow initiation and progression during eye development in Drosophila: the roles of decapentaplegic, hedgehog and eyes absent Development, January 3, 2000; 127(6): 1325 - 1336. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. A. Wharton, J. M. Cook, S. Torres-Schumann, K. de Castro, E. Borod, and D. A. Phillips Genetic Analysis of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein-Related Gene, gbb, Identifies Multiple Requirements During Drosophila Development Genetics, June 1, 1999; 152(2): 629 - 640. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				O. Saget, F. Forquignon, P. Santamaria, and N. B. Randsholt Needs and Targets for the multi sex combs Gene Product in Drosophila melanogaster Genetics, August 1, 1998; 149(4): 1823 - 1838. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. E. Nicholls and W. M. Gelbart Identification of Chromosomal Regions Involved in decapentaplegic Function in Drosophila Genetics, May 1, 1998; 149(1): 203 - 215. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O Khalsa, J. Yoon, S Torres-Schumann, and K. Wharton TGF-beta/BMP superfamily members, Gbb-60A and Dpp, cooperate to provide pattern information and establish cell identity in the Drosophila wing Development, January 7, 1998; 125(14): 2723 - 2734. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P Das, L. Maduzia, H Wang, A. Finelli, S. Cho, M. Smith, and R. Padgett The Drosophila gene Medea demonstrates the requirement for different classes of Smads in dpp signaling Development, January 4, 1998; 125(8): 1519 - 1528. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. de Celis Expression and function of decapentaplegic and thick veins during the differentiation of the veins in the Drosophila wing Development, January 3, 1997; 124(5): 1007 - 1018. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R Burke and K Basler Dpp receptors are autonomously required for cell proliferation in the entire developing Drosophila wing Development, July 1, 1996; 122(7): 2261 - 2269. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K Yu, M. Sturtevant, B Biehs, V Francois, R. Padgett, R. Blackman, and E Bier The Drosophila decapentaplegic and short gastrulation genes function antagonistically during adult wing vein development Development, January 12, 1996; 122(12): 4033 - 4044. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M Zecca, K Basler, and G Struhl Sequential organizing activities of engrailed, hedgehog and decapentaplegic in the Drosophila wing Development, January 8, 1995; 121(8): 2265 - 2278. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Y Graba, K Gieseler, D Aragnol, P Laurenti, M. Mariol, H Berenger, T Sagnier, and J Pradel DWnt-4, a novel Drosophila Wnt gene acts downstream of homeotic complex genes in the visceral mesoderm Development, January 1, 1995; 121(1): 209 - 218. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T Xie, A. Finelli, and R. Padgett The Drosophila saxophone gene: a serine-threonine kinase receptor of the TGF-beta superfamily Science, March 25, 1994; 263(5154): 1756 - 1759. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Mathies, S Kerridge, and M. Scott Role of the teashirt gene in Drosophila midgut morphogenesis: secreted proteins mediate the action of homeotic genes Development, January 10, 1994; 120(10): 2799 - 2809. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. Diaz-Benjumea and E Hafen The sevenless signalling cassette mediates Drosophila EGF receptor function during epidermal development Development, January 3, 1994; 120(3): 569 - 578. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Hursh, R. Padgett, and W. Gelbart Cross regulation of decapentaplegic and Ultrabithorax transcription in the embryonic visceral mesoderm of Drosophila Development, January 4, 1993; 117(4): 1211 - 1222. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R D St Johnston, F M Hoffmann, R K Blackman, D Segal, R Grimaila, R W Padgett, H A Irick, and W M Gelbart Molecular organization of the decapentaplegic gene in Drosophila melanogaster. Genes & Dev., July 1, 1990; 4(7): 1114 - 1127. [Abstract] [PDF]

				V F Irish and W M Gelbart The decapentaplegic gene is required for dorsal-ventral patterning of the Drosophila embryo. Genes & Dev., October 1, 1987; 1(8): 868 - 879. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F M Hoffmann and W Goodman Identification in transgenic animals of the Drosophila decapentaplegic sequences required for embryonic dorsal pattern formation. Genes & Dev., August 1, 1987; 1(6): 615 - 625. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E Hafen, K Basler, J. Edstroem, and G. Rubin Sevenless, a cell-specific homeotic gene of Drosophila, encodes a putative transmembrane receptor with a tyrosine kinase domain Science, April 3, 1987; 236(4797): 55 - 63. [Abstract] [PDF]

				W.M. Gelbart, V.F. Irish, R.D. St. Johnston, F.M. Hoffmann, R. K. Blackman, D. Segal, L.M. Posakony, and R. Grimaila The Decapentaplegic Gene Complex in Drosophila melanogaster Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol, January 1, 1985; 50(0): 119 - 125. [Abstract] [PDF]