Molecular genetic analysis of bithorax complex functions in Drosophila melanogaster

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Title Molecular genetic analysis of bithorax complex functions in Drosophila melanogaster
Publication Type dissertation
School or College School of Medicine
Department Human Genetics
Author Lamka, Michele Lynn
Date 1994-03
Description In Drosophlla melanogaster, the homeotic genes clustered in the bithorax complex (BX-C) are responsible for specifying individual metameric identities of the posterior thorax and abdomen. The BX-C genes, Ultrabithorax (Ubx), abdominal-A (abd-A) and Abdominal-B (Abd-B), encode a conserved family of homeodomain-containing transcription factors that differentially regulate the expression of other genes required for specific segmental features. Lethal Ubx, abd-A and Abd-B alleles disrupt one of the three protein-coding transcription units whereas nonlethal alleles affect cis-regulatory regions. By molecularly defining the transcriptional start site of abd-A, I have confirmed that all lethal abd-A alleles map within the abd-A transcription unit. These results, consistent with the findings for Ubx and Abd-B, support the idea that nonlethal abd-A Alleles affect transcriptional control regions. Abd-B encodes two structurally related proteins that share the same homeodomain but have distinct developmental roles. Previous studies have Indicated that the homeodomain Is the determinant of DNA binding specificity; therefore, ABD-B m and r proteins might be expected to have the same DNA binding specificity but different regulatory effects. I have used an in vivo functional assay to assess the contribution of other protein domains outside the ABD-B homeodomain. I have shown that ABD-B m and r proteins have similar intrinsic activities when ubiquitously expressed throughout embryos, suggesting that other localized factors contribute to ABD-B m and r functional differences during development.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Genetics; Ultrabithorax
Subject MESH Drosophila melanogaster; Alleles; Transcription Factors
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name PhD
Language eng
Relation is Version of Digital reproduction of "A molecular genetic analysis of bithorax complex functions in Drosophila melanogaster". Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library. Print version of "A molecular genetic analysis of bithorax complex functions in Drosophila melanogaster". available at J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collection. QL3.5 1994 .L34.
Rights Management © Michele Lynn Lamka.
Format application/pdf
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 2,634,976 bytes
Identifier undthes,4566
Source Original: University of Utah Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library (no longer available).
Master File Extent 2,635,032 bytes
ARK ark:/87278/s6ht2r60
Setname ir_etd
ID 191462
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6ht2r60
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