Gap genes define the limits of antennapedia and bithorax gene expression during early development in Drosophila.

The maintenance of selective patterns of homeotic gene expression within the Drosophila CNS involves cross-regulatory interactions among the genes of the antennapedia and bithorax complexes (ANT-C and BX-C). Such a mechanism does not appear to be responsible for the establishment of these selective expression patterns during early development. Here we show that mutations in several of the gap genes strongly alter the early patterns of Antp and Abd-B expression. The altered patterns that are observed do not always correlate with simple expectations based on cuticular pattern defects observed in advanced-stage mutants. It appears that the initial patterns of Antp and Abd-B expression involve their differential regulation by a common set of gap genes. We propose that the gap genes are largely responsible for integrating the processes of segmentation and homeosis.     

The genetic specification of pattern in a Drosophila muscle

During development of Drosophila the bithorax complex of genes is responsible for diversification of segments in the ectoderm. The muscles derive from the mesoderm and their pattern also varies from segment to segment--a variation that could be determined directly through deployment of the bithorax complex in the muscle cells themselves. Alternatively, the muscle pattern could be determined indirectly, either by the epidermal cells to which the muscles attach, or by the nerves which contact developing muscles. Using a segment-specific muscle found only in males and a new mutation in the bithorax complex, we show that the development of this muscle is independent of the sex and segmental identity of the epidermis. The development of the muscle therefore depends on the sex and state of the bithorax complex in the muscle nuclei themselves or in part of the central nervous system.     

Spatial and temporal gene expression patterns occur during corm development.

We investigated gene expression patterns that occur during taro corm development. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis identified several different prevalent proteins that accumulate during corm development. Microsequencing studies indicated that some of these proteins are related to taste-modifying proteins, such as curculin and miraculin, and proteins found in other storage organs, such as sporamin and the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor. A curculin-encoding cDNA clone, designated as TC1, was identified that corresponds to a highly prevalent 1-kb corm mRNA. The TC1 mRNA accumulates during corm development, is more prevalent in corm apical than basal regions, and is either absent, or present at low concentrations, in other vegetative organs such as the leaf and root. In situ hybridization experiments showed that the TC1 mRNA is highly concentrated in corm storage parenchyma cells and is absent, or present in reduced concentrations, in other corm cells and tissues. Our results show that corm development is associated with the differentiation of specialized cells and tissues, and that these differentiation events are coupled with the temporal and spatial expression of corm-specific genes.     

p38在小鼠着床前胚胎中的表达（简报）

探讨p38 MAPK在小鼠着床前胚胎期的表达图式,并对其作用作初步分析。用免疫印迹法分析胚胎全裂解物中的p38蛋白。为考察p38在着床前发育中的作用,在胚胎培养液中添加p38专一性抑制剂SB203580。此外对同位素标记的胚胎作双向电泳分析,示踪ZGA(zygotic gene activation,合子型基因激活)标志物TRC的表达情况。在卵母细胞中能检测到低水平的p38蛋白,而在合子中的检测度更低,表明p38是贮存于卵母细胞内的母型转录物,自减数分裂期随其它母型转录物一起逐步降解。到2细胞中期p38蛋白的表达量开始恢复,在4细胞时达到顶峰,在8细胞时又跌落。D38蛋白在2到4细胞期的表达量上升提示该蛋白在小鼠着床前胚胎发育中可能发挥一定作用。经与p38抑制剂SB203580共培养后的2细胞中期胚胎中仍能清晰检测到TRC,因而以TRC为标志的ZGA对SB203580不敏感。SB203580同样不能阻止胚胎发育到桑椹胚期。     

控制果蝇心脏早期发育的基因研究进展

果蝇心脏早期发育与脊椎动物乃至人具有相似的分子机理,自90年代以来,通过P转位子诱变方法已鉴定出20多个与果蝇早期发育相关基因,这为揭示人体心脏发育的基因调控机理提供了重要的依据。     

Dental development in South African australopithecines. Part I: Problems of pattern and chronology

It is well known that humans take about twice as long as apes to mature. The traditional view that such delayed maturation was already present in australopithecines has been called into question during the past several years. We have approached this problem by looking at patterns of dental development in gracile and robust australopithecines from South Africa and comparing them to patterns found in extant humans and apes. We have employed both 2 and 3 dimensional computed tomography in our research. The dental growth patterns in these two australopithecine morphs differ, particularly in M1/I1 development. The robust australopithecines are more humanlike and the gracile australopithecines more apelike in this feature (“humanlike” and “apelike” are not used in any taxonomic sense). Pattern and chronology of dental development must be considered separately. Several major problem areas for future research are identified, most of which revolve around the issue of intra- versus interspecific variation.     

Ecdysteroid-regulated heat-shock gene expression during Drosophila melanogaster development

Peaks in hsp 26, 28, and 83 RNA levels are correlated with peaks in ecdysteroid titers during mid-embryogenesis, pupariation, and mid-pupation, and with a peak in the level of RNA from the 74EF ecdysone puff at pupariation. Inhibition of the ecdysteroid peak at pupariation by temperature shift of the conditionally ecdysteroid-deficient strain ecd-1 was followed by a disappearance of hsp 26 RNA and a decline in hsp 83 RNA level; subsequent addition of exogeneous 20-OH-ecdysone to the temperature-shifted strain resulted in a severalfold increase in hsp 83 RNA level, and a dramatic increase in that of hsp 26. These results are consistent with the induction of the hsp 83, 28, and 26 genes by ecdysteroid at several developmental stages.     

Developmental changes in the pattern of larval beta-globin gene expression in Xenopus laevis. Identification of two early larval beta-globin mRNA sequences

We have analysed beta-globin mRNA sequences in total RNA extracted from embryos and tadpoles of Xenopus laevis at different stages of development and we have identified the most abundantly transcribed beta-globin mRNA (beta T1). The entire nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone corresponding to this mRNA is known. We have now identified the gene corresponding to this mRNA and we have determined the nucleotide sequences of its immediate 5'-flanking region. Using a DNA fragment from within the coding region of the cloned beta T1 cDNA we show, by primer extension analysis, that beta T1 mRNA is first detectable at stage 28-32 of development. This is the time at which the first presumptive erythropoietic tissue, the ventral blood island, becomes observable histologically. We show that two minor beta-globin genes, distinct from beta T1, are expressed during early stages of development, and that their expression ceases shortly after the beginning of the feeding stage. We term these two early larval genes beta E1 and beta E2. A third minor beta-globin gene is expressed during early development but, unlike beta E1 and beta E2, it is also expressed throughout subsequent larval development. We term this gene beta T2 and show that it corresponds to a gene previously termed beta LII. Finally, using a primer derived from the major adult beta-globin gene (beta 1), we have analysed the accumulation of the major adult beta-globin mRNA during larval development, and we show that this sequence does not accumulate to any significant level before metamorphosis.