Kuner J M, Nakanishi M, Ali Z, Drees B, Gustavson E, Theis J, Kauvar L, Kornberg T, O'Farrell P H
Cell. 1985 Aug;42(1):309-16. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(85)80126-4.
The engrailed gene acts early in Drosophila embryogenesis and plays an essential role in the processes that establish and maintain the repeating segmental pattern. To begin molecular analysis of the role of the engrailed gene in embryonic pattern formation, we used a chromosomal walk to clone genomic sequences that encompass the locus, and have physically mapped the positions of 15 engrailed mutations. The positions of engrailed rearrangement mutations indicate that the engrailed complementation unit includes a minimum of 70 kb. The locus can be divided into two regions. Rearrangement mutations interrupting the centromere proximal 50 kb of the locus result in embryonic lethality while mutants altered in the distal 20 kb of the locus survive to show morphological abnormalities in several adult segments. It appears that long-range cis interactions play a role in the function of the engrailed gene.
engrailed基因在果蝇胚胎发育早期发挥作用，在建立和维持重复节段模式的过程中起着至关重要的作用。为了开始对engrailed基因在胚胎模式形成中的作用进行分子分析，我们采用染色体步移法克隆了包含该基因座的基因组序列，并对15个engrailed突变的位置进行了物理定位。engrailed重排突变的位置表明，engrailed互补单位至少包括70 kb。该基因座可分为两个区域。中断该基因座着丝粒近端50 kb的重排突变导致胚胎致死，而该基因座远端20 kb发生改变的突变体存活下来，在几个成虫节段表现出形态异常。看来远距离顺式相互作用在engrailed基因的功能中起作用。
