Sequence of the Tribolium castaneum Homeotic Complex: The Region Corresponding to the Drosophila melanogaster Antennapedia Complex

Sequence of the Tribolium castaneum Homeotic Complex: The Region Corresponding to the Drosophila melanogaster Antennapedia Complex

Susan J. Brown^a, John P. Fellers^b, Teresa D. Shippy^a, Elizabeth A. Richardson^a, Mark Maxwell^c, Jeffery J. Stuart^c, and Robin E. Denell^a
^a Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506,
^b United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506
^c Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907

Corresponding author: Susan J. Brown, Ackert Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506., sjbrown{at}ksu.edu (E-mail)

Communicating editor: T. C. KAUFMAN

The homeotic selector genes of the red flour beetle, Triboliumcastaneum, are located in a single cluster. We have sequencedthe region containing the homeotic selector genes required forproper development of the head and anterior thorax, which isthe counterpart of the ANTC in Drosophila. This 280-kb intervalcontains eight homeodomain-encoding genes, including singleorthologs of the Drosophila genes labial, proboscipedia, Deformed,Sex combs reduced, fushi tarazu, and Antennapedia, as well astwo orthologs of zerknüllt. These genes are all orientedin the same direction, as are the Hox genes of amphioxus, mice,and humans. Although each transcription unit is similar to itsDrosophila counterpart in size, the Tribolium genes containfewer introns (with the exception of the two zerknülltgenes), produce shorter mRNAs, and encode smaller proteins.Unlike the ANTC, this region of the Tribolium HOMC containsno additional genes.

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