Abstract
During sensory organ precursor (SOP) specification, a single cell is selected from a proneural cluster of cells. Here, we present evidence that Senseless (Sens), a zinc-finger transcription factor, plays an important role in this process. We show that Sens is directly activated by proneural proteins in the presumptive SOPs and a few cells surrounding the SOP in most tissues. In the cells that express low levels of Sens, it acts in a DNA-binding-dependent manner to repress transcription of proneural genes. In the presumptive SOPs that express high levels of Sens, it acts as a transcriptional activator and synergizes with proneural proteins. We therefore propose that Sens acts as a binary switch that is fundamental to SOP selection.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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Drosophila
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Drosophila Proteins / genetics
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
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Nuclear Proteins / genetics
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Nuclear Proteins / physiology*
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Promoter Regions, Genetic
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Repressor Proteins / genetics
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Sense Organs / embryology
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Sense Organs / physiology*
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
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Transcription Factors / chemistry
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / physiology*
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Transcription, Genetic
Substances
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Drosophila Proteins
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E(spl)mdelta-HLH protein, Drosophila
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Nuclear Proteins
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Repressor Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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sens protein, Drosophila