Abstract

Nuclear receptors are ancient ligand-regulated transcription factors that control key metabolic and developmental pathways. The fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster has only 18 nuclear-receptor genes — far fewer than any other genetic model organism and representing all 6 subfamilies of vertebrate receptors. These unique attributes establish the fly as an ideal system for studying the regulation and function of nuclear receptors during development. Here, we review recent breakthroughs in our understanding of D. melanogaster nuclear receptors, and interpret these results in light of findings from their evolutionarily conserved vertebrate homologues.

Author affiliations

1. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, 15 North 2030 East, Room 5100, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5331, USA.
   Email: kirst@genetics.utah.edu; Email: carl.thummel@genetics.utah.edu

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