HOX genes regulate size balance between regions of digestive tract

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25440111
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Developmental biology
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: MURAKAMI RYUTARO 山口大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (40182109)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: HOX genes / Drosophila / midgut / visceral mesoderm / size control / Dpp / EGFR

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The midgut of Drosophila embryo consists of endodermal epithelium and visceral mesoderm, and transiently forms four chambers during development. HOX genes, Scr , Antp , Ubx , and abd-A , are expressed in the midgut visceral mesoderm. We have studied role of HOX genes in the development of midgut chambers by use of chamber-specific epithelial differentiation markers.　It was found that except for differentiation of the 2nd chamber, HOX genes are not required for chamber-specific epithelial differentiation itself. Antp, which is expressed at the boundary between the 1st and 2nd chambers, regulates size of the both chambers. Antp activity was found to be mediated by EGFR signaling pathway, and all the phenotypes caused by genetic modification of Antp activity were all associated with changes in dpp expression.

Free Research Field

発生遺伝学