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Sp1/egr-like zinc-finger protein required for endoderm specification and germ-layer formation in Drosophila

Nature volume 369, pages 664–668 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

MUCH of our present knowledge of the biological processes involved in pattern formation in Drosophila is derived from segmentation analysis1, 2. Comparatively little is known about the genetic requirement and mechanisms underlying the formation and separation of germ layers by morphogenetic movements during gastrulation3. Here we show that theDrosophila gene huckebein (hkb), a member of the gap-gene class of segmentation genes4, 5, is required for germ-layer formation at blastoderm. Absence of the hkb product, an Sp1/egr-like zinc-finger protein, causes the ectodermal and mesodermal primordia to expand at the expense of endoderm anlagen. Conversely, ectopic expression of hkb inhibits the formation of the major gastrulation fold which gives rise to the mesoderm and prevents normal segmentation in the ectoderm. Thus, hkb is necessary for endoderm development and its activity defines spatial limits within the blastoderm embryo in which the germ layers are established.

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Author notes

  1. Barbara Cohen

    Present address: EMBL Heidelberg, Meyerhofstr. 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany

  2. Detlef Weigel

    Present address: The Salk Institute, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA

  3. Quynh Chu-LaGraff and Chris Q. Doe: Department of Cell and Structural Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-lnstitut für biophysikalische Chemie, Abteilung Molekulare Entwicklungsbiologie, Postfach 2841, D-37018, Göttingen, Germany

    Günter Brönner, Quynh Chu-LaGraff, Chris Q. Doe, Barbara Cohen, Detlef Weigel, Heike Taubert & Herbert Jäckle

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  1. Günter Brönner
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  2. Quynh Chu-LaGraff
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  3. Chris Q. Doe
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  5. Detlef Weigel
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  7. Herbert Jäckle
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Brönner, G., Chu-LaGraff, Q., Doe, C. et al. Sp1/egr-like zinc-finger protein required for endoderm specification and germ-layer formation in Drosophila. Nature 369, 664–668 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/369664a0

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