Abstract
TheDrosophila homolog of the vertebrate EGF receptor (DER) gene is encoded by thetorpedo (top) locus. We examined the role oftop in the development and differentiation of the integument of the adult abdomen ofDrosophila, by analysing these processes in transheterozygotes of twotop alleles. The mutation, when compared to the wild type, affected mitosis, spreading and differentiation of adult epidermal cells derived from the various histoblast and spiracular nests. Our observations indicate that the need for wild-typetop gene product becomes critical after pupation, and the requirement continues throughout the rest of adult development for the normal morphogenesis of the abdominal integument and spiracles.
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We dedicate this paper to the memory of the doyen of insect physiology, Sir Vincent Briar Wigglesworth, for his avalanche of seminal studies that showed the value of insects to solve key biological problems.
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Madhavan, K., Madhavan, M.M. Defects in the adult abdominal integument ofDrosophila caused by mutations intorpedo, a DER homolog. Roux's Arch Dev Biol 204, 330–335 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02179501
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02179501