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Polyhomeotic: A gene of Drosophila melanogaster required for correct expression of segmental identity

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Summary

A new locus in Drosophila melanogaster that is required for the correct expression of segmental identity has been discovered. The new locus, termed polyhomeotic (ph), is X-linked and maps cytologically to bands 2D2-3. Homozygous ph flies have homeotic transformations similar to those of known dominant gain of function mutants in the Antennapedia and bithorax complexes (ANT-C, BX-C), and in addition show loss of the humerus. ph interacts with three other similar mutations: Polycomb (Pc), Polycomblike (Pcl), and extra sex comb (esc), and acts as a dominant enhancer of Pc. The expression of ph depends on the ANT-C and BX-C dosage. ph has no embryonic phenotype, but temperature shift studies on ph 2 show that the ph + product is required during embryogenesis and larval development. We propose that ph mutants in some way disrupt the normal expression of the ANT-C and BX-C, and, therefore, that ph + is needed for maintenance of segmental identity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de Génétique Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France

    Jean-Maurice Dura & Pedro Santamaria

  2. Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, V6T 2A9, Vancouver, Canada

    Hugh W. Brock

Authors
  1. Jean-Maurice Dura
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  2. Hugh W. Brock
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  3. Pedro Santamaria
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Communicated by W. Gehring

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Dura, JM., Brock, H.W. & Santamaria, P. Polyhomeotic: A gene of Drosophila melanogaster required for correct expression of segmental identity. Molec. Gen. Genet. 198, 213–220 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00382998

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00382998

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