Salzberg A, D'Evelyn D, Schulze K L, Lee J K, Strumpf D, Tsai L, Bellen H J
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030.
Neuron. 1994 Aug;13(2):269-87. doi: 10.1016/0896-6273(94)90346-8.
Through a systematic genetic screen, we have identified 55 mutations that affect the development of the PNS of Drosophila embryos. These mutations specify 13 novel and 5 previously characterized genes and define new phenotypes for 2 other known genes. Five classes of mutant phenotypes were identified in the screen: gain of neurons, loss of neurons, abnormal position of chordotonal neurons, aberrant neuronal trajectories, and abnormal morphology of neurons. Phenotypic analyses of mutations identified in this study revealed three novel aspects of PNS development. First, we have identified a novel gene that may be required to define glial versus neuronal cell identity. Second, our data indicate that neuronal migration plays an important role in pattern formation in the embryonic PNS. Third, we have identified mutations that cause a lack of sensory organs, but unlike mutations in proneural genes, do not affect the formation of sensory organ precursors. These genes may be required for key aspects of neuronal differentiation. Our studies suggest that approximately 70 essential genes are required for proper PNS development in Drosophila embryos.
通过系统的基因筛选，我们鉴定出了55个影响果蝇胚胎外周神经系统（PNS）发育的突变。这些突变确定了13个新基因和5个先前已表征的基因，并为另外2个已知基因定义了新的表型。在筛选中鉴定出了五类突变表型：神经元增加、神经元缺失、弦音神经元位置异常、神经元轨迹异常以及神经元形态异常。对本研究中鉴定出的突变进行的表型分析揭示了外周神经系统发育的三个新方面。第一，我们鉴定出了一个可能对于定义神经胶质细胞与神经元细胞身份是必需的新基因。第二，我们的数据表明神经元迁移在胚胎外周神经系统的模式形成中起重要作用。第三，我们鉴定出了导致感觉器官缺失的突变，但与原神经基因中的突变不同，这些突变不影响感觉器官前体的形成。这些基因可能是神经元分化关键方面所必需的。我们的研究表明，果蝇胚胎外周神经系统的正常发育大约需要70个必需基因。
