Journal article

Authors list: Pechmann, M; Prpic, NM

Publication year: 2022

Pages: 124-134

Journal: Developmental Biology

Volume number: 482

ISSN: 0012-1606

eISSN: 1095-564X

Open access status: Bronze

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.12.008

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 
Leg axis formation in Drosophila is organized by Wingless (Wg) and Decapentaplegic (Dpp) that control a number of downstream factors to pattern the dorsoventral (DV) and proximodistal (PD) axis. The T-box genes are important downstream factors mainly involved in dorsoventral leg axis formation. The ventral side is specified by H15 and midline, whereas optomotor-blind (omb) and Dorsocross (Doc1) are factors to specify dorsal cell fates. We show here that omb also organizes PD leg axis patterning in the beetle Tribolium castaneum. In the legs, Tc-omb is expressed along the dorsal side and represses ventral factors like wg and H15. Intriguingly, removing Tc-omb function leads to the activation of the Dpp pathway along the dorsal side of the legs, thus mimicking normal dpp expression in Drosophila. Dpp activity along the dorsal side leads to altered expression of proximal-distal patterning genes such as Distal-less (Dll) and dachshund (dac). Our results indicate a cell-autonomous activation of Dll and repression of dac by dpp. These findings are compatible with the cross-regulatory "cascade model" of proximal-distal leg imaginal disc patterning of Drosophila.

Harvard Citation style: Pechmann, M. and Prpic, N. (2022) The T-box gene optomotor-blind organizes proximodistal leg patterning in the beetle Tribolium castaneum by repressing dorsal Dpp pathway activity, Developmental Biology, 482, pp. 124-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.12.008

APA Citation style: Pechmann, M., & Prpic, N. (2022). The T-box gene optomotor-blind organizes proximodistal leg patterning in the beetle Tribolium castaneum by repressing dorsal Dpp pathway activity. Developmental Biology. 482, 124-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.12.008