Homeotic genes and regional specification in Drosophila: characterization of the abdominalA gene and mechanisms of transcriptional control by homeotic proteins

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Publication Type dissertation
School or College School of Medicine
Department Human Genetics
Author Appel, Bruce
Title Homeotic genes and regional specification in Drosophila: characterization of the abdominalA gene and mechanisms of transcriptional control by homeotic proteins
Date 1993-06
Description During animal development, different regions of an embryo acquire distinct identities. In Drosophila melanogaster, morphological distinctions along the anterior-posterior axis require the function of homeotic genes. Homeotic genes are expressed in complex, overlapping patterns along the anterior-posterior axis in a manner that suggests they provide positional information to the developing organism. The homeotic genes encode related proteins that can control the transcriptional activity of other genes. Thus, regional identity appears to arise from position-specific patterns of gene expression under the control of homeotic genes. One of the homeotic genes, abdominal-A, is shown here to encode multiple, electrophorelically distinct proteins and to be expressed in different types of cells and tissues. Some of the cell-specific expression of abdominal-A protein is shown to be controlled post-transcriptionally. Finally, by studying the control of a regulatory target regulated by abdominal-A and another homeotic gene, Ultrabithorax, I demonstrate that homeotic proteins establish cell-type-specific, regional patterns of gene expression through complex interactions with the control elements of their target genes.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Mutation; Proteins; Transcription, Genetic
Subject MESH Drosophila melanogaster; Gene Expression Regulation; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Terminator Regions (Genetics)
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name PhD
Language eng
Relation is Version of Digital reproduction of "Homeotic genes and regional specification in Drosophila: characterization of the abdominalA gene and mechanisms of transcriptional control by homeotic proteins." Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library. Print version of "Homeotic genes and regional specification in Drosophila: characterization of the abdominalA gene and mechanisms of transcriptional control by homeotic proteins." available at J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collection.
Rights Management © Bruce Appel.
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 3,143,804 bytes
Identifier undthes,4807
Source Original: University of Utah Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library (no longer available).
Funding/Fellowship NIH Cancer traininc Grant CA09602.
Master File Extent 3,143,929 bytes
ARK ark:/87278/s66t0pcv
Setname ir_etd
ID 190612
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s66t0pcv