The segment polarity gene armadillo interacts with the wingless signaling pathway in both embryonic and adult pattern formation

Mark Peifer, Cordelia Rauskolb, Michelle Williams, Bob Riggleman, Eric Wieschaus

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

243 Scopus citations

Abstract

The segment polarity genes of Drosophila were initially defined as genes required for pattern formation within each embryonic segment. Some of these genes also function to establish the pattern of the adult cuticle. We have examined the role of the armadillo (arm) gene in this latter process. We confirmed and extended earlier findings that arm and the segment polarity gene wingless are very similar in their effects on embryonic development. We next discuss the role of arm in pattern formation in the imaginai discs, as determined by using a pupal lethal allele, by analyzing clones of arm mutant tissue in imaginai discs, and by using a transposon carrying arm to produce adults with a reduced level of arm. Together, these experiments established that arm is required for the development of all imaginal discs. The requirement for arm varies along the dorsal-ventral and proximal-distal axes. Cells that require the highest levels of arm are those that express the wingless gene. Further, animals with reduced arm levels have phenotypes that resemble those of weak alleles of wingless. We present a description of the patterns of arm protein accumulation in imaginai discs. Finally, we discuss the implications of these results for the role of arm and wingless in pattern formation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1029-1043
Number of pages15
JournalDevelopment
Volume111
Issue number4
StatePublished - Apr 1991

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Keywords

  • Armadillo
  • Drosophila
  • Pattern formation
  • Segment polarity gene
  • Wingless

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