Identification and Genetic Analysis of wunen, a Gene Guiding Drosophila melanogaster Germ Cell Migration

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Identification and Genetic Analysis of wunen, a Gene Guiding Drosophila melanogaster Germ Cell Migration

N. Zhang, J. Zhang, Y. Cheng and K. Howard
Present address: The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609.

We describe a novel genetic locus, wunen (wun), required for guidance of germ cell migration in early Drosophila development. Loss of wun function does not abolish movement but disrupts the orientation of the motion causing the germ cells to disperse even though their normal target, the somatic gonad, is well formed. We demonstrate that the product of this gene enables a signal to pass from the soma to the germ line and propose that the function of this signal is to selectively stabilize certain cytoplasmic extensions resulting in oriented movement. To characterize this guidance factor, we have mapped wun to within 100 kb of cloned DNA.

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				M Starz-Gaiano, N. Cho, A Forbes, and R Lehmann Spatially restricted activity of a Drosophila lipid phosphatase guides migrating germ cells Development, January 3, 2001; 128(6): 983 - 991. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. N. Prokopenko, Y. He, Y. Lu, and H. J. Bellen Mutations Affecting the Development of the Peripheral Nervous System in Drosophila: A Molecular Screen for Novel Proteins Genetics, December 1, 2000; 156(4): 1691 - 1715. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. K. Morrison, M. S. Murakami, and V. Cleghon Protein Kinases and Phosphatases in the Drosophila Genome J. Cell Biol., July 24, 2000; 150(2): F57 - F62. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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