Cellular Communication During Drosophila Development

这项提议旨在启动一个研究计划，研究果蝇发育过程中的细胞信号传递。果蝇丰富的遗传信息和分子操作的简便性使其成为解剖涉及信号转导途径等多个组成部分的过程的理想系统。在这里，沃顿博士建议通过遗传学和发育分析来阐明新发现的类似转化生长因子的基因60A的功能。该基因的突变将在F2致命筛查和男性不育筛查中产生。这些突变体的发育后果将通过对它们的发育、角质层准备、组织学和原位杂交的直接观察来确定。潜在的遗传相互作用涉及60A和其他编码转化生长因子-β信号转导途径的假定成分的基因，例如果蝇的第二个转化生长因子-β基因，DPP，将被检测。这些实验的结果将使我们能够更好地了解转化生长因子-β蛋白在发育过程中细胞间通讯中的作用。

This proposal is intended to initiate a research program to study cell signalling during Drosophila development. The wealth of genetic information and the ease of molecular manipulation in Drosophila make it an ideal system for the dissection of processes involving many components, such as signal transduction pathways. Here Dr. Wharton proposes to elucidate the function of the newly identified TGF-beta like gene, 60A, through genetical and developmental analyses. Mutations in the gene will be generated in an F2 lethal screen and a male sterile screen. The developmental consequences of these mutants will be determined by direct observation of their development, cuticular preparations, histology and in situ hybridizations. Potential genetic interactions involving 60A, and other genes which code for putative components of a TGF-beta signal transduction pathway, such as, a second Drosophila TGF-beta like gene, dpp, will be examined. The results of these experiments will allow us to better understand the roles of TGF-beta like proteins in communication between cells during development.