CYTOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF CHROMOSOME 3 IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER: ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FOUR NEW ALLELES OF THE PROBOSCIPEDIA (pb) LOCUS

1 Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47401

Previous studies on proximal 3R have cytologically localized the dominant homeotic loci Antennapedia (Antp), Multiple Sex Comb (Msc), Nasobemia (Ns), and Extra Sex Comb (Scx). In this study we set out to find the site of the proboscipedia (pb) locus. In order to accomplish this, four new alleles of this homeotic gene were induced with gamma rays. Genetic and cytogenetic analyses have shown that the pb locus resides in polytene chromosome bands 84A1–6, immediately adjacent to the Antp gene complex in 84B1–2. An analysis of the morphology of the proboscis and the dose relationships of the four new alleles have shown that this homeosis is unusual in at least two respects. First, the two different developmental fates realized in the proboscis at 18° (labial palps rarr arista) and 29° (labial palps rarr leg) under the influence of pb1 grown at 18°, while the remaining three are like pb1 at 29°. Dosage studies reveal that this difference reflects a hypomorphic vs. amorphic condition. Second, like the original, these new alleles produce a prothoracic rather than a mesothoracic leg in the proboscis. Both of these results indicate that pb is unique among the homeotics, and as such it may offer some new insights into developmental processes.

Submitted on March 22, 1978
Revised on May 30, 1978




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
C. Benassayag, S. Plaza, P. Callaerts, J. Clements, Y. Romeo, W. J. Gehring, and D. L. Cribbs
Evidence for a direct functional antagonism of the selector genes proboscipedia and eyeless in Drosophila head development
Development, February 1, 2003; 130(3): 575 - 586.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
GeneticsHome page
M. A. DeCamillis, D. L. Lewis, S. J. Brown, R. W. Beeman, and R. E. Denell
Interactions of the Tribolium Sex combs reduced and proboscipedia Orthologs in Embryonic Labial Development
Genetics, December 1, 2001; 159(4): 1643 - 1648.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
A. Inbal, N. Halachmi, C. Dibner, D. Frank, and A. Salzberg
Genetic evidence for the transcriptional-activating function of Homothorax during adult fly development
Development, September 15, 2001; 128(18): 3405 - 3413.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
A. Abzhanov, S. Holtzman, and T. C. Kaufman
The Drosophila proboscis is specified by two Hox genes, proboscipedia and Sex combs reduced, via repression of leg and antennal appendage genes
Development, July 15, 2001; 128(14): 2803 - 2814.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
GeneticsHome page
T. D. Shippy, J. Guo, S. J. Brown, R. W. Beeman, and R. E. Denell
Analysis of maxillopedia Expression Pattern and Larval Cuticular Phenotype in Wild-Type and Mutant Tribolium
Genetics, June 1, 2000; 155(2): 721 - 731.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
GeneticsHome page
T. R. Breen
Mutant Alleles of the Drosophila trithorax Gene Produce Common and Unusual Homeotic and Other Developmental Phenotypes
Genetics, May 1, 1999; 152(1): 319 - 344.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
GeneticsHome page
A. Percival-Smith and D. J. Hayden
Analysis in Drosophila melanogaster of the Interaction Between Sex Combs Reduced and Extradenticle Activity in the Determination of Tarsus and Arista Identity
Genetics, September 1, 1998; 150(1): 189 - 198.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
GeneticsHome page
L. A. Johnston, B. D. Ostrow, C. Jasoni, and K. Blochlinger
The Homeobox Gene cut Interacts Genetically With the Homeotic Genes proboscipedia and Antennapedia
Genetics, May 1, 1998; 149(1): 131 - 142.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
A Percival-Smith, J Weber, E Gilfoyle, and P Wilson
Genetic characterization of the role of the two HOX proteins, Proboscipedia and Sex Combs Reduced, in determination of adult antennal, tarsal, maxillary palp and proboscis identities in Drosophila melanogaster
Development, January 12, 1997; 124(24): 5049 - 5062.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
L. Johnston and G Schubiger
Ectopic expression of wingless in imaginal discs interferes with decapentaplegic expression and alters cell determination
Development, January 11, 1996; 122(11): 3519 - 3529.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
C Rauskolb, K. Smith, M Peifer, and E Wieschaus
extradenticle determines segmental identities throughout Drosophila development
Development, January 11, 1995; 121(11): 3663 - 3673.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
A. Kapoun and T. Kaufman
A functional analysis of 5', intronic and promoter regions of the homeotic gene proboscipedia in Drosophila melanogaster
Development, January 7, 1995; 121(7): 2127 - 2141.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Genes Dev.Home page
R J Diederich, V K Merrill, M A Pultz, and T C Kaufman
Isolation, structure, and expression of labial, a homeotic gene of the Antennapedia Complex involved in Drosophila head development.
Genes & Dev., March 1, 1989; 3(3): 399 - 414.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Genes Dev.Home page
M A Pultz, R J Diederich, D L Cribbs, and T C Kaufman
The proboscipedia locus of the Antennapedia complex: a molecular and genetic analysis.
Genes & Dev., July 1, 1988; 2(7): 901 - 920.
[Abstract] [PDF]