Genetics, Vol 140, 1339-1352, Copyright © 1995

INVESTIGATIONS

A Screen for Modifiers of Deformed Function in Drosophila

K. W. Harding, G. Gellon, N. McGinnis and W. McGinnis
Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven Connecticut 06520-8114

Proteins produced by the homeotic genes of the Hox family assign different identities to cells on the anterior/posterior axis. Relatively little is known about the signalling pathways that modulate their activities or the factors with which they interact to assign specific segmental identities. To identify genes that might encode such functions, we performed a screen for second site mutations that reduce the viability of animals carrying hypomorphic mutant alleles of the Drosophila homeotic locus, Deformed. Genes mapping to six complementation groups on the third chromosome were isolated as modifiers of Deformed function. Products of two of these genes, sallimus and moira, have been previously proposed as homeotic activators since they suppress the dominant adult phenotype of Polycomb mutants. Mutations in hedgehog, which encodes secreted signalling proteins, were also isolated as Deformed loss-of-function enhancers. Hedgehog mutant alleles also suppress the Polycomb phenotype. Mutations were also isolated in a few genes that interact with Deformed but not with Polycomb, indicating that the screen identified genes that are not general homeotic activators. Two of these genes, cap `n' collar and defaced, have defects in embryonic head development that are similar to defects seen in loss of function Deformed mutants.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. E. Bondos, X.-X. Tan, and K. S. Matthews Physical and Genetic Interactions Link Hox Function with Diverse Transcription Factors and Cell Signaling Proteins Mol. Cell. Proteomics, May 1, 2006; 5(5): 824 - 834. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. W. Kankel, D. M. Duncan, and I. Duncan A Screen for Genes That Interact With the Drosophila Pair-Rule Segmentation Gene fushi tarazu Genetics, September 1, 2004; 168(1): 161 - 180. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Merabet, F. Catala, J. Pradel, and Y. Graba A Green Fluorescent Protein Reporter Genetic Screen That Identifies Modifiers of Hox Gene Function in the Drosophila Embryo Genetics, September 1, 2002; 162(1): 189 - 202. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A Veraksa, N McGinnis, X Li, J Mohler, and W McGinnis Cap 'n' collar B cooperates with a small Maf subunit to specify pharyngeal development and suppress deformed homeotic function in the Drosophila head Development, January 9, 2000; 127(18): 4023 - 4037. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. Wiellette, K. Harding, K. Mace, M. Ronshaugen, F. Wang, and W McGinnis spen encodes an RNP motif protein that interacts with Hox pathways to repress the development of head-like sclerites in the Drosophila trunk Development, January 12, 1999; 126(23): 5373 - 5385. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. Wiellette and W McGinnis Hox genes differentially regulate Serrate to generate segment-specific structures Development, January 5, 1999; 126(9): 1985 - 1995. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N McGinnis, E Ragnhildstveit, A Veraksa, and W McGinnis A cap 'n' collar protein isoform contains a selective Hox repressor function Development, January 11, 1998; 125(22): 4553 - 4564. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G Gellon, K. Harding, N McGinnis, M. Martin, and W McGinnis A genetic screen for modifiers of Deformed homeotic function identifies novel genes required for head development Development, January 9, 1997; 124(17): 3321 - 3331. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Chan, H. Ryoo, A Gould, R Krumlauf, and R. Mann Switching the in vivo specificity of a minimal Hox-responsive element Development, January 5, 1997; 124(10): 2007 - 2014. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Laney and M. Biggin Redundant control of Ultrabithorax by zeste involves functional levels of zeste protein binding at the Ultrabithorax promoter Development, July 1, 1996; 122(7): 2303 - 2311. [Abstract] [PDF]