|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
| Home Help Feedback Subscriptions Archive Search Table of Contents | ||||
Development, Vol 127, Issue 1 97-107, Copyright © 2000 by Company of Biologists
JOURNAL ARTICLES |
F Roch and M Akam
University Museum of Zoology, Department of Zoology, Cambridge, UK. fr213hermes.cam.ac.uk.
The Drosophila haltere is a much reduced and specialised hind wing, which functions as a balance organ. Ultrabithorax (Ubx) is the sole Hox gene responsible for the differential development of the fore-wing and haltere in Drosophila. Previous work on the downstream effects of Ubx has focused on the control of pattern formation. Here we provide the first detailed description of cell differentiation in the haltere epidermis, and of the developmental processes that distinguish wing and haltere cells. By the end of pupal development, haltere cells are 8-fold smaller in apical surface area than wing cells; they differ in cell outline, and in the size and number of cuticular hairs secreted by each cell. Wing cells secrete only a thin cuticle, and undergo apoptosis within 2 hours of eclosion. Haltere cells continue to secrete cuticle after eclosion. Differences in the shape of wing and haltere cells reflect differences in the architecture of the actin cytoskeleton that become apparent between 24 and 48 hours after puparium formation. We show that Ubx protein is not needed later than 6 hours after puparium formation to specify these differences, though it is required at later stages for the correct development of campaniform sensilla on the haltere. We conclude that, during normal development, Ubx protein expressed before pupation controls a cascade of downstream effects that control changes in cell morphology 24-48 hours later. Ectopic expression of Ubx in the pupal wing, up to 30 hours after puparium formation, can still elicit many aspects of haltere cell morphology. The response of wing cells to Ubx at this time is sensitive to both the duration and level of Ubx exposure.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  L. F. de Navas, D. L. Garaulet, and E. Sanchez-Herrero The Ultrabithorax Hox gene of Drosophila controls haltere size by regulating the Dpp pathway Development, November 15, 2006; 133(22): 4495 - 4506. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. A. Crickmore and R. S. Mann Hox Control of Organ Size by Regulation of Morphogen Production and Mobility Science, July 7, 2006; 313(5783): 63 - 68. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Ronshaugen, F. Biemar, J. Piel, M. Levine, and E. C. Lai The Drosophila microRNA iab-4 causes a dominant homeotic transformation of halteres to wings Genes & Dev., December 15, 2005; 19(24): 2947 - 2952. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 F. Roch, C. R. Alonso, and M. Akam Drosophila miniature and dusky encode ZP proteins required for cytoskeletal reorganisation during wing morphogenesis J. Cell Sci., April 1, 2003; 116(7): 1199 - 1207. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
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]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Rozowski and M. Akam Hox gene control of segment-specific bristle patterns in Drosophila Genes & Dev., May 1, 2002; 16(9): 1150 - 1162. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Ponzielli, M. Astier, A. Chartier, A. Gallet, P. Therond, and M. Semeriva Heart tube patterning in Drosophila requires integration of axial and segmental information provided by the Bithorax Complex genes and hedgehog signaling Development, January 10, 2002; 129(19): 4509 - 4521. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
