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Molecular organization of master mind, a neurogenic gene of Drosophila melanogaster

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Summary

The gene master mind (mam) is located in bands 50C23-D1 of the second chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster. mam is one of the neurogenic genes, whose function is necessary for a normal segregation of neural and epidermal lineages during embryonic development. Loss of function of any of the neurogenic genes results in a mis-routeing into neurogenesis of cells that normally would have given rise to epidermis. We describe here the molecular cloning of 198 kb of genomic DNA containing the mam gene. Ten different mam mutations (point mutants and chromosomal aberrations) have been mapped within 45 kb of the genomic walk. One of the mutations, an insertion of a P-element, was originally recovered from a dysgenic cross. Four different wild-type revertants of this mutation were characterized at the molecular level and, although modifications of the insertions were found, in no case was the transposon completely excised. An unusually high number of the repetitive opa sequence, and of an additional previously unknown element, which we have called N repeat, are scattered throughout the 45 kb where the mam mutations map. The functional significance of these repeats is unknown.

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Author notes

  1. Detlef Weigel

    Present address: Abt. Biochemie, Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Spemannstrasse 35, 7400, Tübingen, FRG

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Entwicklungsphysiologie, Universität zu Köln, Gyrhofstrasse 17, D-5000, Köln 41, Federal Republic of Germany

    Detlef Weigel, Elisabeth Knust & José A. Campos-Ortega

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  1. Detlef Weigel
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  2. Elisabeth Knust
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  3. José A. Campos-Ortega
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Communicated by E. Bautz

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Weigel, D., Knust, E. & Campos-Ortega, J.A. Molecular organization of master mind, a neurogenic gene of Drosophila melanogaster . Mol Gen Genet 207, 374–384 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00331604

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00331604

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