0000000000004663
AUTHOR
Dietmar Gundacker
Gene within gene configuration and expression of the Drosophila melanogaster genes lethal(2) neighbour of tid [l(2)not] and lethal(2) relative of tid[l(2)rot].
In this paper, we describe the structure and temporal expression pattern of the Drosophila melanogaster genes l(2)not and l(2)rot located at locus 59F5 vis a vis the tumor suppressor gene l(2)tid described previously and exhibiting a gene within gene configuration. The l(2)not protein coding region, 1530 nt, is divided into two exons by an intron, 2645 nt, harboring the genes l(2)rot, co-transcribed from the same DNA strand, and l(2)tid, co-transcribed from the opposite DNA strand, located vis a vis. To determine proteins encoded by the genes described in this study polyclonal rabbit antibodies (Ab), anti-Not and anti-Rot, were generated. Immunostaining of developmental Western blots with t…
One Rational Strategy for Restoration of Coral Reefs: Application of Molecular Biological Tools to Select Sites for Rehabilitation by Asexual Recruits
Experiments for reef rehabilitation were performed at two selected sites near Hurghada (Red Sea, Egypt) the reef close to the Marine Biological Station (with a high sedimentation rate from landfilling) and El-Fanadir Reef (a clear water site). Since only little is known about the influence of the physical environmental conditions, novel molecular biological approaches have been introduced to assess the metabolic status of corals. In order to avoid possible interference with symbionts the molecular studies have been performed with the octocoral Dendronephthya klunzingeri; this species does not contain zooxanthellae. The metabolic enzymes fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and the succinat-dehydroge…
Genetic, cytogenetic and developmental analysis of the Drosophila melanogaster tumor suppressor gene lethal(2)tumorous imaginal discs (l(2)tid)
Abstract Three of the twenty recessive-lethal tumor suppressor genes of Drosophila cause imaginal disc tumors in the homozygously mutated state. One of these is the lethal(2)tumorous imaginal discs (l(2)tid) gene. Histo-logical preparations show the tumorous imaginal disc epithelium to consist of a mosaic of cells in monolayer and cells in clumped arrangement. In contrast, the wild-type imaginal disc epithelium is comprised exclusively of cells in monolayer arrangement. Mutant imaginal disc tissue pieces implanted into ready-to-pupariate wild-type larvae fail to differentiate. Implantation of l(2)tid imaginal disc tissue pieces in vivo into wild-type adult flies revealed a lethal, tumorous …
Isolation and cloning of a C-type lectin from the hexactinellid sponge Aphrocallistes vastus: a putative aggregation factor
Among the sponges (Porifera), the oldest group of metazoans in phylogenetic terms, the Hexactinellida is considered to have diverged earliest from the two other sponge classes, the Demospongiae and Calcarea. The Hexactinellida are unusual among all Metazoa in possessing mostly syncytial rather than cellular tissues. Here we describe the purification of a cell adhesion molecule with a size of 34 kDa (in its native form; 24 kDa after deglycosylation) from the hexactinellid sponge Aphrocallistes vastus. This adhesion molecule was previously found to agglutinate preserved cells and membranes in a non-species-specific manner (Müller, W. E. G., Zahn, R. K, Conrad, J., Kurelec, B., and Uhlenbruck,…
Molecular and functional analysis of the (6-4) photolyase from the hexactinellid Aphrocallistes vastus.
The hexactinellid sponges (phylum Porifera) represent the phylogenetically oldest metazoans that evolved 570-750 million years ago. At this period exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light exceeded that of today and it may be assumed that this old taxon has developed a specific protection system against UV-caused DNA damage. A cDNA was isolated from the hexactinellid Aphrocallistes vastus which comprises high sequence similarity to genes encoding the protostomian and deuterostomian (6-4) photolyases. Subsequently functional studies were performed. It could be shown that the sponge gene, after transfection into mutated Escherichia coli, causes resistance of the bacteria against UV light. Recombinan…
Genetic and molecular analysis of six tumor suppressor genes in Drosophila melanogaster
Six Drosophila melanogaster tumor suppressor genes causing malignant or benign tumors in specific cell types are described. The wild-type alleles of these genes are instrumental in the differentiation of particular cell types. In the homozygous state, recessive mutations in the genes interrupt the differentiation of the cells and thus cause their uncontrolled, autonomous, lethal proliferation. The tumors show all major characteristics of malignant and benign neoplastic growth. Genomic sequences of four of the genes have been identified and are currently being characterized. ImagesFIGURE 1.FIGURE 2.FIGURE 2.
Tumor suppression inDrosophila is causally related to the function of thelethal(2)tumorous imaginal discs gene, adnaJ homolog
The Drosophila melanogaster tumor suppressor gene lethal(2)tumorous imaginal discs (l(2)tid) causes in homozygotes malignant growth of cells of the imaginal discs and the death of the mutant larvae at the time of puparium formation. We describe the molecular cloning of the l(2)tid+ gene and its temporal expression pattern in the wild-type and mutant alleles. Germ line rescue of the tumor phenotype was achieved with a 7.0 kb Hindlll-fragment derived from the polytene chromosome band 59F5. The l(2)tid+ gene spans approximately 2.5 kb of genomic DNA. The protein coding region, 1,696 bps long, is divided by an intron into two exons. The predicted Tid56 protein contains 518 amino acids and posse…