Genetics, Vol. 177, 2493-2505, December 2007, Copyright © 2007
doi:10.1534/genetics.107.080994

Investigating the Genetic Circuitry of Mastermind in Drosophila, a Notch Signal Effector

Mark W. Kankel*, Gregory D. Hurlbut*,{dagger}, Geeta Upadhyay{ddagger}, Vijay Yajnik{ddagger}, Barry Yedvobnick§ and Spyros Artavanis-Tsakonas*,**,1

* Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, {dagger} Faculté des Sciences d'Orsay, Université de Paris-Sud 11, 75248 Paris, France, {ddagger} Gastrointestinal Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, § Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 and ** Collège de France, 75231 Paris, Cedex 05, France

1 Corresponding author: Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Ave., LHRRB-418, Boston, MA 02115.
E-mail: artavanis{at}hms.harvard.edu

Notch signaling regulates multiple developmental processes and is implicated in various human diseases. Through use of the Notch transcriptional co-activator mastermind, we conducted a screen for Notch signal modifiers using the Exelixis collection of insertional mutations, which affects ~50% of the Drosophila genome, recovering 160 genes never before associated with Notch, extending the previous roster of genes that interact functionally with the Notch pathway and mastermind. As the molecular identity for most recovered genes is known, gene ontology (GO) analysis was applied, grouping genes according to functional classifications. We identify novel Notch-associated GO categories, uncover nodes of integration between Notch and other signaling pathways, and unveil groups of modifiers that suggest the existence of Notch-independent mastermind functions, including a conserved ability to regulate Wnt signaling.


Related articles in Genetics:

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS

Genetics 2007 177: NP. [Full Text]