Homeotic transformation of legs to mouthparts by proboscipedia expression in Drosophila imaginal discs
Abstract
The Drosophila homeotic gene proboscipedia (pb) specifies labial identify and directs formation of the adult distiproboscis from the labial imaginal discs. pb null alleles result in the homeotic transformation of the distiproboscis into prothoracic (T1) legs [Kaufman (1978) Genetics 90, 579-596; Pultz et al. (1988) Genes Dev. 2, 901-920]. Homology with other transcription factors, localization to the nucleus, and restricted embryonic and imaginal expression implicate the pb protein (PB) as a transcription factor. In order to examine the possible roles that PB may play in the specification of adult mouthparts, we have expressed PB in cells of wing, leg and eye-antennal imaginal discs and assayed for effects on the development of adult structures. We report here that the ectopic expression of PB in the imaginal discs under the control of the inducible GAL4 system [Brand and Perrimon (1993) Development 118, 401-415] alters the developmental program of adult legs into maxillary or labial palps. These homeotic transformations have an equal effect on all three sets of legs, indicating an activity that is not solely dependent upon the unique combinations of other homeotic genes present in each of the leg discs. Segment polarity genes ...Continue Reading
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