Wismar J, Habtemichael N, Warren J T, Dai J D, Gilbert L I, Gateff E
Institut für Genetik, Johannes Gutenberg Universität, Saarstrasse 21a, Mainz, 55099, Germany.
Dev Biol. 2000 Oct 1;226(1):1-17. doi: 10.1006/dbio.2000.9811.
Larvae homozygous for the recessive lethal allele without children(rgl) (woc(rgl)) fail to pupariate. Application of exogenous 20-hydroxyecdysone elicits puparium formation and pupation. Ecdysteroid titer measurements on mutant larvae show an endocrine deficiency in the brain-ring gland complex, which normally synthesizes ecdysone, resulting in a failure of the larvae to achieve a threshold whole body hormone titer necessary for molting. Ultrastructural investigation revealed extensive degeneration of the prothoracic cells of the ring gland in older larvae. The woc gene, located in polytene chromosomal region 97F, consists of 11 exons. A 6.8-kb transcript is expressed throughout development but is absent in the mutant woc(rgl) larvae. The woc gene encodes a protein of 187 kDa. Eight zinc fingers of the C2-C2 type point to a possible function as a transcription factor. The woc protein shows considerable homology to human proteins which have been implicated in both mental retardation and a leukemia/lymphoma syndrome.
隐性致死等位基因“无子代”（rgl）的纯合幼虫（woc(rgl)）无法化蛹。施加外源性20-羟基蜕皮激素可引发蛹壳形成和化蛹。对突变幼虫的蜕皮甾体滴度测量显示，脑-环腺复合体存在内分泌缺陷，该复合体通常合成蜕皮激素，导致幼虫无法达到蜕皮所需的全身激素滴度阈值。超微结构研究显示，老龄幼虫环腺的前胸细胞出现广泛退化。woc基因位于多线染色体区域97F，由11个外显子组成。一个6.8 kb的转录本在整个发育过程中均有表达，但在突变的woc(rgl)幼虫中缺失。woc基因编码一种187 kDa的蛋白质。8个C2-C2型锌指表明其可能具有转录因子的功能。woc蛋白与人类蛋白质具有相当的同源性，这些人类蛋白质与智力迟钝和白血病/淋巴瘤综合征均有关联。
