MOLECULAR GENETICS OF SENSORY ORGAN DEVELOPMENT

本文所述研究计划的长期目标 建议是对遗传电路和细胞的理解 控制成人周围神经发育的机制 PNS系统。 基本的实验方法是 研究特定基因和基因产物的作用， 正常的感觉器官模式和/或细胞分化。 这项提议涉及无毛和有胡子基因。 功能丧失 Hairless突变导致感觉器官前体细胞功能衰竭 发展 胡须突变似乎干扰了两个连续的 感觉器官过程中的抑制性细胞-细胞相互作用事件 发展 利用经典和分子遗传学技术， 生物学和生物化学，我们建议分析这些基因，它们的 产品及其功能，并确定和研究新的相互作用 这些基因控制PNS的发展。 该项目有 具体目标如下： (1)无毛基因及其RNA的分子特征和 蛋白质产物及其时空模式分析 表情 (2)完成无毛零发育的分析 缺损 (3)基因座的鉴定和遗传/发育分析 与无毛互动 (4)Bearded基因的分子生物学分析及其表达模式 表达和生物化学研究的相互作用的胡子 蛋白质与钙调素。 (5)基因座的鉴定和遗传/发育分析 与胡须功能缺失和获得等位基因相互作用。

The long-term objective of the research program described in this proposal is an understanding of the genetic circuitry and cellular mechanisms that control the development of the adult peripheral nervous system (PNS) of Drosophila. The basic experimental approach is to investigate the action of specific genes and gene products required for normal sensory organ patterning and/or cytodifferentiation. The proposal concerns the genes Hairless and Bearded. Loss-of-function mutations of Hairless cause the failure of sensory organ precursor cell development. Bearded mutations appear to interfere with two successive inhibitory cell-cell interaction events during sensory organ development. Using techniques of classical and molecular genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry, we propose to analyze these genes, their products, and their functions, and to identify and study new interacting genes that act in the control of PNS development. The project has the following specific aims: (1) Molecular characterization of the Hairless gene and its RNA and protein products and analysis of their spatial and temporal patterns of expression. (2) Completion of the analysis of the Hairless null developmental defect. (3) Identification and genetic/developmental analysis of loci interacting with Hairless. (4) Molecular analysis of the Bearded gene and its patterns of expression, and biochemical studies of the interaction of the Bearded protein with calmodulin. (5) Identification and genetic/developmental analysis of loci interacting with Bearded loss- and gain-of-function alleles.