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2014 - Costa et al_Dev Biol.pdf (4.44 MB)

The bristle patterning genes hairy and extramacrochaetae regulate the development of structures required for flight in Diptera

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posted on 2023-06-08, 23:59 authored by Marta Costa, Manuel Calleja, Claudio AlonsoClaudio Alonso, Pat Simpson
The distribution of sensory bristles on the thorax of Diptera (true flies) provides a useful model for the study of the evolution of spatial patterns. Large bristles called macrochaetes are arranged into speciesspecific stereotypical patterns determined via spatially discrete expression of the proneural genes achaete–scute (ac–sc). In Drosophila ac-sc expression is regulated by transcriptional activation at sites where bristle precursors develop and by repression outside of these sites. Three genes, extramacrochaetae (emc), hairy (h) and stripe (sr), involved in repression have been documented. Here we demonstrate that in Drosophila, the repressor genes emc and h, like sr, play an essential role in the development of structures forming part of the flight apparatus. In addition we find that, in Calliphora vicina a species diverged from D. melanogaster by about 100 Myr, spatial expression of emc, h and sr is conserved at the location of development of those structures. Based on these findings we argue, first, that the role emc, h and sr in development of the flight apparatus preceded their activities for macrochaete patterning; second, that species-specific variation in activation and repression of ac-sc expression is evolving in parallel to establish a unique distribution of macrochaetes in each species

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Developmental Biology

ISSN

0012-1606

Publisher

Elsevier

Issue

2

Volume

388

Page range

205-215

Department affiliated with

  • Neuroscience Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-01-15

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2016-01-15

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-01-15

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