Developmental studies of lethality associated with the antennapedia gene complex in Drosophila melanogaster

A number of dominant homoeotic mutations are localized to the proximal right arm of chromosome 3 of Drosophila melanogaster and are thought to represent members of a gene complex that controls normal determinative decisions in the head and thorax. We have designated this complex the Antennapedia gene complex (ANT-C). Developmental studies were done to investigate the nature of the lethality associated with members of two of the complementation groups within ANT-C. The first complementation group, represented by the mutant Multiple Sex Combs (Msc) is characterized by embryonic lethality when heterozygous with a deletion of the ANT-C. The second complementation group consists of Antennapedia (Antp), Antennapedia-Extra Sex Combs (Antp^Scx), and the lethals recovered as revertants of Antp^Ns. When heterozygous for a deletion of the ANT-C or in heterozygous condition with each other, the members of this group show effective lethal phases spanning from embryo-larval boundary to late larval stages. Wakimoto and Kaufman (1981) show that the Antp⁺ gene acts to establish normal determinative states in the thorax. In the present work, transplantation of eye-antennal disks from lethal individuals heterozygous for two different Antp^Ns revertant chromosomes into wild-type hosts allowed the assessment of the function of the Antp⁺ allele in the antenna. Since these transplants formed only antennal structures and showed no evidence of the antennal → leg transformation seen in Antp^Ns controls, we conclude that the wild-type function of the Antp locus is not necessary for the establishment and/or maintenance of the antennal determined state. We suggest that regulatory mechanisms associated with the Antp⁺ structural gene normally function both to allow its expression in the thorax and to repress it in the antenna.     

Analysis of larval segmentation in lethal genotypes associated with the antennapedia gene complex in Drosophila melanogaster

The segment pattern of larval cuticular structures was examined for individuals bearing lethal genotypes associated with the Antennapedia gene complex (ANT-C). The results provide new evidence for the role of this complex in body segmentation in Drosophila and demonstrate that the ANT-C, like the bithorax complex, effects both larval and imaginal tissues. Lethal genotypes involving new EMS induced lesions or dominant homoeotic mutations (Antp or Antp^Scx) of the Antennapedia complementation group show anomalies in the larval meso- and metathorax. The phenotype is interpreted as a homoeotic transformation of the meso- and metathorax to prothorax. We suggest that Antp⁺ functions in the elicitation of mesothoracic development above that of a prothoracic level in the ventral meso- and metathorax. The lethality of the Sex combs reduced complementation group, which includes the mutation Multiple sex combs (Msc), is characterized by incomplete head formation and the lack of definitive prothoracic ventral setal belts. These results indicate that Scr⁺ is necessary for normal development of the prothorax and are consistent with earlier interpretations based on adult phenotypes. Five other lethal complementation sites, assigned to polytene chromosome interval 84A-B1,2 have been analyzed. They are not associated with dominant homoeotic phenotypes in the adult. The terminal phenotype of individuals carrying lethal mutations in the W36, R11, or R14 complementation groups demonstrate that these loci are important in normal anterior development and/or body segmentation and suggest functional relationships to the homoeotic mutations previously localized to the 84A-84B1,2 polytene interval.     

Cytogenetic Analysis of Chromosome 3 in DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER: Isolation and Characterization of Four New Alleles of the Proboscipedia (pb) Locus

Previous studies on proximal 3R have cytologically localized the dominant homeotic loci Antennapedia (Antp), Multiple Sex Comb (Msc), Nasobemia (Ns), and Extra Sex Comb (Scx). In this study we set out to find the site of the proboscipedia (pb) locus. In order to accomplish this, four new alleles of this homeotic gene were induced with gamma rays. Genetic and cytogenetic analyses have shown that the pb locus resides in polytene chromosome bands 84A1–6, immediately adjacent to the Antp gene complex in 84B1–2. An analysis of the morphology of the proboscis and the dose relationships of the four new alleles have shown that this homeosis is unusual in at least two respects. First, the two different developmental fates realized in the proboscis at 18° (labial palps → arista) and 29° (labial palps → leg) under the influence of pb¹ grown at 18°, while the remaining three are like pb¹ at 29°. Dosage studies reveal that this difference reflects a hypomorphic vs. amorphic condition. Second, like the original, these new alleles produce a prothoracic rather than a mesothoracic leg in the proboscis. Both of these results indicate that pb is unique among the homeotics, and as such it may offer some new insights into developmental processes.     

Homoeosis in Drosophila: a new enhancer of polycomb and related homoeotic mutations

A new recessive lethal mutation in Drosophila melanogaster , Enhancer of Polycomb [E(Pc)], and chromosomal deficiencies lacking this locus act as dominant enhancers of the Polycomb mutant syndrome in adults. Thus, although E(Pc)/+ flies are phenotypically normal, this locus is haplo-abnormal with respect to its effect on the Polycomb phenotype. Recombinational and deficiency mapping localize the E(Pc) locus on chromosome 2 proximally and very closely linked (~0.1 map unit) to the engrailed gene. E(Pc) enhances the expression of all Polycomb point mutations examined including that of a deficiency, indicating that this interaction does not depend on the presence of an altered Polycomb gene product. In several respects the mutations extra sex comb, lethal(4)29, and Polycomblike resemble those at the Polycomb locus. In the presence of E(Pc), recessive alleles of extra sex comb and lethal(4)29 are rendered slightly pseudodominant, and the homoeotic effects of Polycomblike heterozygotes are also enhanced. However, E(Pc) does not affect the expression of dominant mutations within the Bithorax gene complex (Cbx) or Antennapedia gene complex (Antp^Ns, Antp^73b, Antp^scx , Antp^EfW15, Scr^Msc) which give homoeotic transformations resembling those of the Polycomb syndrome. Available evidence from the study of adult phenotypes suggests that mutations at E(Pc) do not result in homoeotic changes directly but instead modify the expression of a specific set of functionally related homoeotic variants.     

Hox genes in the honey bee Apis mellifera

Hox genes are known to control the identity of serially repeated structures in arthropods and vertebrates. We analyzed the expression pattern of the Hox genes Deformed (Dfd), Sex combs reduced (Scr), Antennapedia (Antp), and Ultrabithorax/abdominal-A (Ubx/abd-A) from the honey bee Apis mellifera. We also cloned a cDNA with the complete coding region of the Antennapedia gene from Apis. Comparison with Antp proteins from other insect species revealed several regions of homology. The expression patterns of the isolated Hox genes from Apis showed that the original expression patterns of Dfd, Scr, and Antp appear between late blastoderm and early germ band stage in a temporal and spatial sequence. Each of them shows up as a belt, spanning approximately two segment anlagen, Dfd in the anterior gnathal region, Scr in the posterior gnathal and anterior thoracic region, and Antp in the thoracic region. Following expansion of the Antp domain in the abdomen as a gradient towards the posterior, Ubx/abd-A expression appears laterally in the abdomen. During gastrulation and in the germ band stage the domains of strong expression do not overlap any more, but touch each other. After gastrulation the borders of the expression domains partly correlate with parasegment and partly with segment boundaries. Laterally, gaps between the domain of each gene may show no expression of any of the genes examined. Received: 30 August 1999 / Accepted: 28 April 2000     

Genetic Analysis of the Antennapedia Gene Complex (Ant-C) and Adjacent Chromosomal Regions of DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER. II. Polytene Chromosome Segments 84A-84B1,2

The existence of a gene complex in the proximal right arm of chromosome 3 of Drosophila melanogaster involved in the development of the head and thorax was originally suggested by the phenotypes of several dominant homoeotic mutations and their revertants. A screen for mutations utilizing Df(3R) Antp^Ns+R17 (proximally broken in salivary region 84B1,2) yielded, among 102 recovered mutations, 17 localized by deficiency mapping to the putative homoeotic cluster. These fell into four complementation groups, two of which were characterized by homoeotic phenotypes. To explore the limits of the Antennapedia gene complex (ANT-C) more proximally, a second screen has been undertaken utilizing Df(3R)Scr, a deficiency of 84A1–B1,2.—Of 2832 chromosomes screened, 21 bearing alterations localized to polytene interval 84A–84B1,2 have been recovered. Sixteen are recessive lethals, and five showing reduced viability display a visible phenotype in surviving individuals. Complementation and phenotypic analyses revealed four complementation groups proximal to those identified in the previous screen, including two new alleles of the recessive homoeotic mutation, proboscipedia (pb). Ten of the new mutations correspond to complementation groups defined previously in the Df(3R)Antp^Ns+R17 screen four to the EbR11 group, two to the Scr group and four to the Antp group.—On the basis of the phenotypes of the 39 mutations localized to this region, plus their interactions with extant homoeotic mutations, we postulate that there are at least five functional sites comprising the ANT-C. Three have been demonstrated to be homoeotic in nature. The specific homoeotic transformations thus far observed suggest that these loci are critical for normal development of adult labial, maxillary and thoracic structures.     

Localization of the Antennapedia protein in Drosophila embryos and imaginal discs

Antibodies have been raised against a fusion protein containing the 3' region of the coding sequence of the Antennapedia (Antp) gene fused to β-galactosidase. The distribution of the protein on whole mount embryos and imaginal discs of third instar larvae was examined by immunofluorescence. In young embryos, expression of the Antp protein was limited to the thoracic segments in the epidermis, whereas it was found in all neuromeres of head, thorax and abdomen. At the end of embryogenesis, the Antp protein mainly accumulated in the ventral nervous system in certain parts of the thoracic neuromeres, from posterior T1 to anterior T3, with a gap in posterior T2. Comparison of Antp protein distribution in nervous systems from wild-type and Df P9 embryos, lacking the genes of the Bithorax-complex (BX-C), revealed a pattern of expression which indicated that the BX-C represses Antp in the posterior segments with the exception of the last abdominal neuromeres (A8-9) which are regulated independently. The protein pattern in nervous systems from Sex combs reduced(Scr^xF9) mutant embryos was indistinguishable from that found in wild-type embryos; thus, neurogenic expression of Antp in T1 and the more anterior segments does not appear to be under the control of Scr⁺. All imaginal discs derived from the three thoracic segments express Antp protein. The distribution was distinct in each disc; strongest expression was observed in the proximal parts of the discs. In the leg discs the protein distribution seemed to be compartmentally restricted, whereas in the wing disc this was not the case. Antp protein was not detected in the eye-antennal disc. In embryos, as well as in imaginal discs, the protein is localized in the nucleus.     

Homoeosis in Drosophila: The Lethal Syndrome of the Regulator of bithorax (or trithorax) Locus and Its Interaction with Other Homoeotic Loci

Regulator of bithorax (Rg-bx)^- [or trithorax (trx)^-] lethal zygotes show anterior transformations of various cuticular features of the larval thorax and abdomen. The Rg-bx^- lethal syndrome depends on the dosage of the bithorax gene complex (BX-C), and lack of Rg-bx⁺ function is antagonistic to posterior transformations displayed by Polycomb ( Pc)^- embryos. Significantly, when the BX-C is deleted, the Rg-bx^- embryos disclose homoeosis of mesothoracic to prothoracic cuticular structures. This homoeotic transformation is due to a reduction in Antennapedia (Antp)⁺ gene activity and is consequently dependent on the dosage of the Antennapedia gene complex (ANT-C), suggesting that the Rg-bx⁺ activity is necessary for proper expression of the Antp⁺ gene. However, the functional relationship between the Rg-bx and Sex combs reduced (Scr) loci in embryogenesis is still to be established.     

Cytogenetic Analysis of Chromosome 3 in DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER: Mapping of the Proximal Portion of the Right Arm

In order to define more precisely the most proximal portion of chromosome 3R in Drosophila melanogaster, several new chromosome aberrations involving this region have been recovered and analyzed. These new arrangements were recovered as induced reversions of two dominant mutations, Antp^Ns and dsx^D, located in the region of interest. The results of the analysis have allowed the localization of several existing mutations, have further elucidated the complex homoeotic locus which resides in this region, and have confirmed the efficacy of this type of screen in the analysis of specific chromosome regions.     

Variance of actual inbreeding

The variances of actual inbreeding and coancestry in terms of their corresponding identities by descent were studied for finite populations. For inbreeding at a single locus, the total variance σ² = F(1 ? F) (F is the inbreeding coefficient) is comprised of a component σ_w² within populations and a component σ_b² between replicate populations. These variances increase in time to a maximum at about 1.1N_e generations for σ_w², about 2.3N_e generations for σ_b², and about 1.4N_e generations for σ², and decrease thereafter (N_e is effective population size). The ratio $\text{σ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>b</mtext>}}{}^2\text{σ}{}^2$ is ever increasing to an asymptote in the range 0.4-0.5 depending on N_e and the mating system. For finite populations with variation in pedigree F's, there are contributions σ_wF² within and σ_bF² between populations. The component σ_bF² is insignificant except for very small populations, and σ_wF² is largest in the early generations and then decreases roughly as $\text{(1 ? F)}{}^2\text{KN}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>e</mtext>}}\text{where}\text{K}$ is formulated in terms of the mating strategy and the degree of avoidance of mating relatives. An additional degree of avoidance increases K by a factor of 4. In a large population at equilibrium with respect to mixed self and random mating, σ_wF² accounts for onehalf to two-thirds of σ_w². Bringing in more loci leads to the decomposition of the total variance into four components whose values are affected by linkages among the loci. The relationships between these components and σ_w², σ_b², σ_wF², and σ_bF², are elaborated in terms of tight and loose linkage. The exact computations of σ_wF² and σ_bF² require the use of two locus descent measures without linkage. The variances of various averages of actual identities by descent, such as the proportions for individuals or populations, are formulated for a sample of individuals.     

Third chromosome suppressor of position-effect variegation loci in Drosophila melanogaster

Summary As a result of a genetic analysis of 63 third chromosome suppressor mutations of position-effect variegation 12 different loci showing dominant suppression have been identified and their map positions determined. A compilcation of the genetic data available for each suppressor locus is given. The strong suppressor effects of the mutations have been quantified by measurements of white variegation inw ^m4h /w ^m4h ,w ^m4h /Y andw ^m4h /O flies. Mutant alleles of three loci were found in these studies to dominate over the strong enhancer effect of complete loss of the Y chromosome. Most of the identified loci suppressing position-effect variegation represent essential genetic funtions; only three loci represent nonessential functions. Mutations of two loci display recessive butyrate sensitivity and lethal interaction with the heterochromatic Y chromosome suggesting that these genes affect chromosomal condensation. Studies with deficiencies and triploids revealed that most of the loci represent haplo-abnormal suppressor functions. The use of the isolated mutant material for genetic, developmental and molecular studies of processes connected with gene inactivation in position-effect variegation is discussed.Dedicated to Prof. H.J. Becker on the occasion of his 6th birthday     

The dominant Drop eye mutations of Drosophila melanogaster define two loci implicated in normal eye development

The three existing dominant gain-of-function Drop alleles, Dr ¹, Dr ^Mio and Dr ^We , previously assumed to define a single locus, severely disrupt eye development. Genetic analysis of ethylmethanesulphonate (EMS) and irradiation-induced revertants revealed that the Drop mutations define two loci: the Drop locus, which is defined by the Dr ¹ and Dr ^Mio mutants, and a separate locus defined by the Dr ^We mutation, which has been renamed Wedge. The majority of the Dr ¹ and Dr ^Mio revertants are embryonic lethal in trans, mutant embryos exhibiting trachea that fail to join the Filzkörper, thus revealing a role for the Drop gene in embryogenesis. Clonal analysis of lethal revertant alleles suggests a role for both genes in eye development. In the Drop homozygous mutant clones, the outer photoreceptor cells R1–R6 develop aberrantly. Wedge, however, is not required by the developing photoreceptor cells but its absence does disrupt normal ommatidial alignment. Although the Drop and nearby string loci were shown to be genetically distinct, both Dr ¹ and Dr ^Mio were found to interact in trans with lesions at the string locus, causing loss and derangement of bristles and loss of neuromuscular coordination.     

Reactivation of the ATCase domain of the URA2 gene complex: a positive selection method for Ty insertions and chromosomal rearrangements in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetic rearrangements such as deletions or duplications of DNA sequences are rarely detected in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have developed a screening system using the URA2 gene coding for the bi-functional CPSase-ATCase (carbamyl phosphate synthetase — aspartate transcarbamylase) to select positively for these kinds of events. Nonsense mutations in the CPSase region cause a complete loss of the ATCase activity because of their strong polar effect. Thirty-seven ATCase⁺ revertants were isolated from a strain containing three nonsense mutations in the proximal CPSase region. Genetic and structural analysis of the URA2 locus in these strains allowed us to characterize two major classes of revertants. In the first, an entire copy of a Ty transposon was found to be inserted in the CPSase coding domain. This event, which represents a new form of Ty-mediated gene activation was further analysed by mapping the Ty integration site in 26 strains. In a second class of revertants, we observed chromosomal rearrangements and, in particular, duplication of the ATCase region and its integration in a new chromosomal environment in which this sequence becomes active.     

Mobilization of the gypsy and copia retrotransposons in Drosophila melanogaster induces reversion of the ovo dominant female-sterile mutations: molecular analysis of revertant alleles

The ovo locus is required for the maintenance of the female germ line in Drosophila melanogaster. In the absence of an ovo⁺ gene, males are completely normal but females have no germ-line stem cells. Three dominant mutations at the ovo locus, called ovo^D, were observed to revert towards recessive alleles at high frequency when ovo^D males were crossed to females of the strain y v f mal. We have found that this strain contains an inordinately high number of gypsy transposable elements, and crossing it with the ovo^D strains results in the mobilization of both gypsy and copia, with high-frequency insertions into the ovo locus: of 16 revertants examined 12 have gypsy and four have copia inserted at 4E, the ovo cytological site. Using gypsy DNA as a tag we have cloned 32 kb of wild-type DNA sequences surrounding a gypsy insertion and characterized molecular rearrangements in several independent revertants: in 10 of them gypsy appears to be inserted into the same site. The orientation of gypsy is strictly correlated with whether the neighbouring lozenge-like mutation appears in the revertants. A distal limit of the ovo locus was molecularly determined from the breakpoint of a deletion affecting closely flanking regions.     

Nonequivalence of Classical MHC Class I Loci in Ability to Direct Effective Antiviral Immunity

Structural diversity in the peptide binding sites of the redundant classical MHC antigen presenting molecules is strongly selected in humans and mice. Although the encoded antigen presenting molecules overlap in antigen presenting function, differences in polymorphism at the MHC I A, B and C loci in humans and higher primates indicate these loci are not functionally equivalent. The structural basis of these differences is not known. We hypothesize that classical class I loci differ in their ability to direct effective immunity against intracellular pathogens. Using a picornavirus infection model and chimeric H-2 transgenes, we examined locus specific functional determinants distinguishing the ability of class I sister genes to direct effective anti viral immunity. Whereas, parental FVB and transgenic FVB mice expressing the H-2K^b gene are highly susceptible to persisting Theiler''s virus infection within the CNS and subsequent demyelination, mice expressing the D^b transgene clear the virus and are protected from demyelination. Remarkably, animals expressing a chimeric transgene, comprised primarily of K^b but encoding the peptide binding domain of D^b, develop a robust anti viral CTL response yet fail to clear virus and develop significant demyelination. Differences in expression of the chimeric K^bα1α2D^b gene (low) and D^b (high) in the CNS of infected mice mirror expression levels of their endogenous H-2^q counterparts in FVB mice. These findings demonstrate that locus specific elements other than those specifying peptide binding and T cell receptor interaction can determine ability to clear virus infection. This finding provides a basis for understanding locus-specific differences in MHC polymorphism, characterized best in human populations.     

The Genetics of a Small Autosomal Region of DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER Containing the Structural Gene for Alcohol Dehydrogenase. VI. Induced Revertants of Scutoid

Twenty-six induced revertants of Scutoid (Sco), a dominant mutation of Drosophila melanogaster, have been characterized genetically. Sco is an unusual mutation, involving two small reciprocal transpositions within the region 35A4 to 35C5 of chromosome arm 2L. One of these transpositions juxtaposes the noc and l(2)br28 loci. We suggested previously that the Sco phenotype results from the "fusion" of noc and l(2)br28. In support of this idea we now show that 23 of 26 revertants of Sco are noc^-, indeed the majority are either chromosome aberrations broken between noc and l(2)br28 or deletions of these loci from the mutant chromosome. However, some revertants of Sco are rather more complex, and their properties suggest an interaction between the pu-noc and l(2)br28-l(2)br37 regions of chromosome arm 2L and also demonstrate the genetic complexity of the el-noc region.     

Position Effects and Variegation Enhancers in an Autosomal Region of DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

A dominant eye color mutation was found associated with a third chromosome inversion broken distally at or near the karmoisin (kar) locus in 87C and proximally within centric heterochromatin. Suppressibility of the mutant phenotype by an extra Y chromosome indicated that this was an example of dominant position-effect variegation. When heterozygous with deficiencies uncovering the kar locus, this inversion chromosome was found to be lethal unless a region in 87EF was also deleted. Extra Y chromosomes rescued inversion/deletion heterozygotes, while removal of the Y chromosome from heterozygous males deficient for the region in 87EF was lethal. Thus, a variegating lethal lies near the breakpoint in 87C, and a wild-type gene that enhances its variegation lies in 87EF. Furthermore, deletion of the region in 87EF was found to strongly suppress white-mottled-4 (w^m4) variegation, while deletion of another region in 87BC suppressed less strongly. These results indicate that essential genes on autosomes are sensitive to position effects, and loci that enhance variegation, as defined by deficiency mapping, are very common.     

Genetic effects of the flavonols quercetin,kaempferol, and galangin on Chinese hamster ovary cells in vitro

The genotoxicity of selected flavonols was evaluated by multiple endpoints in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Chromosomal aberrations, sister-chromatid exchange (SCE), and forward mutation at 4 gene loci were measured in a single population of cells exposed to quercetin, kaempferol, or galangin for 15 h with and without metabolic activation. The incidence of chromosomal aberrations was significantly increased by quercetin in the absenve of activation and by kempferol and galangin with and without activation. Flavonol treatment affected SCE and mutation at the hgprt, aprt, orNa⁺ /K⁺ -ATPase loci only marginally, but significantly increased mutation frequencies at the tk locus. The response at the tk locus suggests that the CHO cells may behave similarly to L5178Y cells, in which the tk locus is thought to reflect chromosomal lesions in addition to point mutation. These results indicate that, at least under the conditions examined, flavonols induce chromosomal aberrations in CHO cells, but have little effect on point mutation or SCE.