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Development 128, 2639-2648 (2001)
© 2001 The Company of Biologists Limited

Redundant function of Runt Domain binding partners, Big brother and Brother, during Drosophila development

Joshua S. Kaminker1, Rajan Singh1, Tim Lebestky2, Huajun Yan1 and Utpal Banerjee1,2,3,*

1 Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology,
2 Molecular Biology Institute,
3 Department of Biological Chemistry and Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA

*Author for correspondence (e-mail: banerjee{at}mbi.ucla.edu)

Accepted April 26, 2001

The Core Binding Factor is a heterodimeric transcription factor complex in vertebrates that is composed of a DNA binding {alpha}-subunit and a non-DNA binding ß-subunit. The {alpha}-subunit is encoded by members of the Runt Domain family of proteins and the ß-subunit is encoded by the CBFß gene. In Drosophila, two genes encoding {alpha}-subunits, runt and lozenge, and two genes encoding ß-subunits, Big brother and Brother, have been previously identified. Here, a sensitized genetic screen was used to isolate mutant alleles of the Big brother gene. Expression studies show that Big brother is a nuclear protein that co-localizes with both Lozenge and Runt in the eye imaginal disc. The nuclear localization and stability of Big brother protein is mediated through the formation of heterodimeric complexes between Big brother and either Lozenge or Runt. Big brother functions with Lozenge during cell fate specification in the eye, and is also required for the development of the embryonic PNS. ds-RNA-mediated genetic interference experiments show that Brother and Big brother are redundant and function together with Runt during segmentation of the embryo. These studies highlight a mechanism for transcriptional control by a Runt Domain protein and a redundant pair of partners in the specification of cell fate during development.

Key words: Big brother, Brother, lozenge, runt, Runx, Eye development, Ommatidium, CBFß, RNAi






© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2001