The overall aim of the proposed work is to examine the molecular mechanisms by which three-dimensional subcellular structures are constructed during embryonic morphogenesis, and to examine the control of differential gene action by which such developmental processes are directed. The model system is a study of tubulin gene expression and microtubule function during embryogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. In particular, we will examine the regulation and function of the embryo-specific Beta 3-tubulin gene we have identified which is transcribed by the zygotic genome only for a brief period in mid-embryogenesis.
The specific aims for the proposed experiments include both genetic and molecular analysis of the expression and function in microtubule assembly of the embryo-specific Beta 3-tubulin subunit: (1) Isolation of mutations in the structural gene for Beta 3-tubulin. Mutations will be isolated by screening for embryonic lethal mutations which fail to complement a deficiency chromosome which we have shown deletes the Beta 3-tubulin gene. We have developed a generally applicable strategy for identifying embryos of known genotype during the course of embryogenesis. This method provides the embryonic genetic marker previously missing from the Drosophila literature and will allow us to study embryos homozygous for Beta 3-tubulin mutations during the time of gene action. (2) Analysis of known mutations which affect the tissue in which Beta 3-tubulin is expressed. Localization of Beta 3-tubulin will be done by in situ hybridization of a message-specific probe we have constructed to sectioned embryos. (3) Isolation of mutations in genes which encode products which interact with Beta 3-tubulin. (4) Promoter-fusion experiments which will (a) allow us to examine functional equivalence of different Beta-tubulin gene products and hence indirectly assess the evolutionary pressures which led to the formation and multiple tubulin genes, and (b) allow a method to isolate mutations which specifically affect regulation of the timing or tissue-specificity of Beta 3-tubulin expression. (5) Examination of chromatin structure around the Beta 3-tubulin gene during both """"""""turn-on"""""""" and """"""""turn-off"""""""" of gene expression.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD016739-06
Application #
3313903
Study Section
Genetics Study Section (GEN)
Project Start
1982-09-01
Project End
1990-08-31
Budget Start
1987-09-01
Budget End
1988-08-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Indiana University Bloomington
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
006046700
City
Bloomington
State
IN
Country
United States
Zip Code
47402
Dettman, R W; Turner, F R; Raff, E C (1996) Genetic analysis of the Drosophila beta3-tubulin gene demonstrates that the microtubule cytoskeleton in the cells of the visceral mesoderm is required for morphogenesis of the midgut endoderm. Dev Biol 177:117-35
Fackenthal, J D; Hutchens, J A; Turner, F R et al. (1995) Structural analysis of mutations in the Drosophila beta 2-tubulin isoform reveals regions in the beta-tubulin molecular required for general and for tissue-specific microtubule functions. Genetics 139:267-86
Hoyle, H D; Hutchens, J A; Turner, F R et al. (1995) Regulation of beta-tubulin function and expression in Drosophila spermatogenesis. Dev Genet 16:148-70
Fackenthal, J D; Turner, F R; Raff, E C (1993) Tissue-specific microtubule functions in Drosophila spermatogenesis require the beta 2-tubulin isotype-specific carboxy terminus. Dev Biol 158:213-27
Saxton, W M; Hicks, J; Goldstein, L S et al. (1991) Kinesin heavy chain is essential for viability and neuromuscular functions in Drosophila, but mutants show no defects in mitosis. Cell 64:1093-102
Kimble, M; Dettman, R W; Raff, E C (1990) The beta 3-tubulin gene of Drosophila melanogaster is essential for viability and fertility. Genetics 126:991-1005
Yang, J T; Saxton, W M; Stewart, R J et al. (1990) Evidence that the head of kinesin is sufficient for force generation and motility in vitro. Science 249:42-7
Hoyle, H D; Raff, E C (1990) Two Drosophila beta tubulin isoforms are not functionally equivalent. J Cell Biol 111:1009-26
Kimble, M; Incardona, J P; Raff, E C (1989) A variant beta-tubulin isoform of Drosophila melanogaster (beta 3) is expressed primarily in tissues of mesodermal origin in embryos and pupae, and is utilized in populations of transient microtubules. Dev Biol 131:415-29
Field, K G; Olsen, G J; Lane, D J et al. (1988) Molecular phylogeny of the animal kingdom. Science 239:748-53

Showing the most recent 10 out of 13 publications