Abstract
The Suppressor of fused [Su(fu)] gene of Drosophila melanogaster encodes a protein containing a PEST sequence [sequence enriched in proline (P), glutamic acid (E), serine (S) and threonine (T)] which acts as an antagonist to the serine-threonine kinase Fused in Hedgehog (Hh) signal transduction during embryogenesis. The Su(fu) gene isolated from a distantly related Drosophila species, D. virilis, shows significantly high homology throughout its protein sequence with its D. melanogaster counterpart. We show that these two Drosophila homologs of Su(fu) are functionally interchangeable in enhancing the fused phenotype. We have also isolated mammalian homologs of Su(fu). The absence of the PEST sequence in the mammalian Su(fu) protein suggests a different regulation for this product between fly and vertebrates. Using the yeast two-hybrid method, we show that the murine Su(fu) protein can interact directly with the Fused and Cubitus interruptus proteins, known partners of Su(fu) in Drosophila. These data are discussed in the light of their evolutionary relationships.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 11 September 1998 / Accepted: 9 December 1998
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Delattre, M., Briand, S., Paces-Fessy, M. et al. The Suppressor of fused gene, involved in Hedgehog signal transduction in Drosophila, is conserved in mammals. Dev Gene Evol 209, 294–300 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004270050255
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004270050255