Ecdysone coordinates the timing and amounts of E74A and E74B transcription in Drosophila

The ecdysone-induced DHR4 orphan nuclear receptor coordinates growth and maturation in Drosophila

A critical determinant of insect body size is the time at which the larva stops feeding and initiates wandering in preparation for metamorphosis. No genes have been identified that regulate growth by contributing to this key developmental decision to terminate feeding. We show here that mutations in the DHR4 orphan nuclear receptor result in larvae that precociously leave the food to form premature prepupae, resulting in abbreviated larval development that translates directly into smaller and lighter animals. In addition, we show that DHR4 plays a central role in the genetic cascades triggered by the steroid hormone ecdysone at the onset of metamorphosis, acting as both a repressor of the early ecdysone-induced regulatory genes and an inducer of the betaFTZ-F1 midprepupal competence factor. We propose that DHR4 coordinates growth and maturation in Drosophila by mediating endocrine responses to the attainment of critical weight during larval development.

The early gene E74B isoform is a transcriptional activator of the ecdysteroid regulatory hierarchy in mosquito vitellogenesis

In the mosquito Aedes aegypti, blood feeding activates vitellogenesis that involves yolk protein precursor (YPP) genes in an insect metabolic tissue, the fat body. Vitellogenesis is regulated by the 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) regulatory hierarchy, in which the Ets-domain protein E74 is a key transcriptional regulator. The mosquito AaE74 gene encodes two isoforms-AaE74A and AaE74B. Both AaE74 isoforms are 20E-inducible early gene products. AaE74B reaches its maximal expression at 10(-7)M of 20E, while AaE74A requires 10(-6)M of 20E, a concentration at which the YPP genes reach their maximal induction level. In transfection assay, AaE74B is capable of activating a reporter construct containing E74-response elements, while expression of AaE74A has no effect on the basal levels of the reporter. The AaE74B binding activity is present in the fat body nuclei only during active vitellogenesis. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that AaE74B isoform plays the role of a transcriptional activator during vitellogenesis.

rigor mortis encodes a novel nuclear receptor interacting protein required for ecdysone signaling during Drosophila larval development

Pulses of the steroid hormone ecdysone trigger the major developmental transitions in Drosophila, including molting and puparium formation. The ecdysone signal is transduced by the EcR/USP nuclear receptor heterodimer that binds to specific response elements in the genome and directly regulates target gene transcription. We describe a novel nuclear receptor interacting protein encoded by rigor mortis (rig) that is required for ecdysone responses during larval development. rig mutants display defects in molting, delayed larval development, larval lethality, duplicated mouth parts, and defects in puparium formation--phenotypes that resemble those seen in EcR, usp, E75A and betaFTZ-F1 mutants. Although the expression of these nuclear receptor genes is essentially normal in rig mutant larvae, the ecdysone-triggered switch in E74 isoform expression is defective. rig encodes a protein with multiple WD-40 repeats and an LXXLL motif, sequences that act as specific protein-protein interaction domains. Consistent with the presence of these elements and the lethal phenotypes of rig mutants, Rig protein interacts with several Drosophila nuclear receptors in GST pull-down experiments, including EcR, USP, DHR3, SVP and betaFTZ-F1. The ligand binding domain of betaFTZ-F1 is sufficient for this interaction, which can occur in an AF-2-independent manner. Antibody stains reveal that Rig protein is present in the brain and imaginal discs of second and third instar larvae, where it is restricted to the cytoplasm. In larval salivary gland and midgut cells, however, Rig shuttles between the cytoplasm and nucleus in a spatially and temporally regulated manner, at times that correlate with the major lethal phase of rig mutants and major switches in ecdysone-regulated gene expression. Taken together, these data indicate that rig exerts essential functions during larval development through gene-specific effects on ecdysone-regulated transcription, most likely as a cofactor for one or more nuclear receptors. Furthermore, the dynamic intracellular redistribution of Rig protein suggests that it may act to refine spatial and temporal responses to ecdysone during development.

Genetic Modifier Screens in Drosophila Demonstrate a Role for Rho1 Signaling in Ecdysone-Triggered Imaginal Disc Morphogenesis

Drosophila adult leg development provides an ideal model system for characterizing the molecular mechanisms of hormone-triggered morphogenesis. A pulse of the steroid hormone ecdysone at the onset of metamorphosis triggers the rapid transformation of a flat leg imaginal disc into an immature adult leg, largely through coordinated changes in cell shape. In an effort to identify links between the ecdysone signal and the cytoskeletal changes required for leg morphogenesis, we performed two large-scale genetic screens for dominant enhancers of the malformed leg phenotype associated with a mutation in the ecdysoneinducible broad early gene (br1). From a screen of >750 independent deficiency and candidate mutation stocks, we identified 17 loci on the autosomes that interact strongly with br1. In a complementary screen of ∼112,000 F1 progeny of EMS-treated br1 animals, we recovered 26 mutations that enhance the br1 leg phenotype [E(br) mutations]. Rho1, stubbloid, blistered (DSRF), and cytoplasmic Tropomyosin were identified from these screens as br1-interacting genes. Our findings suggest that ecdysone exerts its effects on leg morphogenesis through a Rho1 signaling cascade, a proposal that is supported by genetic interaction studies between the E(br) mutations and mutations in the Rho1 signaling pathway. In addition, several E(br) mutations produce unexpected defects in midembryonic morphogenetic movements. Coupled with recent evidence implicating ecdysone signaling in these embryonic morphogenetic events, our results suggest that a common ecdysone-dependent, Rho1-mediated regulatory pathway controls morphogenesis during the two major transitions in the life cycle, embryogenesis and metamorphosis.

Coordinate regulation of small temporal RNAs at the onset of Drosophila metamorphosis

The lin-4 and let-7 small temporal RNAs play a central role in controlling the timing of Caenorhabditis elegans cell fate decisions. let-7 has been conserved through evolution, and its expression correlates with adult development in bilateral animals, including Drosophila [Nature 408 (2000), 86]. The best match for lin-4 in Drosophila, miR-125, is also expressed during pupal and adult stages of Drosophila development [Curr. Biol. 12 (2002), 735]. Here, we ask whether the steroid hormone ecdysone induces let-7 or miR-125 expression at the onset of metamorphosis, attempting to link a known temporal regulator in Drosophila with the heterochronic pathway defined in C. elegans. We find that let-7 and miR-125 are coordinately expressed in late larvae and prepupae, in synchrony with the high titer ecdysone pulses that initiate metamorphosis. Unexpectedly, however, their expression is neither dependent on the EcR ecdysone receptor nor inducible by ecdysone in cultured larval organs. Although let-7 and miR-125 can be induced by ecdysone in Kc tissue culture cells, their expression is significantly delayed relative to that seen in the animal. let-7 and miR-125 are encoded adjacent to one another in the genome, and their induction correlates with the transient appearance of an approximately 500-nt RNA transcribed from this region, providing a mechanism to explain their precise coordinate regulation. We conclude that a common precursor RNA containing both let-7 and miR-125 is induced independently of ecdysone in Drosophila, raising the possibility of a temporal signal that is distinct from the well-characterized ecdysone-EcR pathway.

E74 exhibits stage-specific hormonal regulation in the epidermis of the tobacco hornworm, manduca sexta

The transcription factor E74 is one of the early genes induced by ecdysteroids during metamorphosis of Drosophila melanogaster. Here, we report the cloning and hormonal regulation of E74 from the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (MsE74). MsE74 is 98% identical to that of D. melanogaster within the DNA-binding ETS domain of the protein. The 5'-isoform-specific regions of MsE74A and MsE74B share significantly lower sequence similarity (30-40%). Developmental expression by Northern blot analysis reveals that, during the 5th larval instar, MsE74B expression correlates with pupal commitment on day 3 and is induced to maximal levels within 12h by low levels of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and repressed by physiologically relevant levels of juvenile hormone I (JH I). Immunocytochemical analysis shows that MsE74B appears in the epidermis before the 20E-induced Broad transcription factor that is correlated with pupal commitment (Zhou and Riddiford, 2001). In contrast, MsE74A is expressed late in the larval and the pupal molts when the ecdysteroid titer has declined to low levels and in the adult molt just as the ecdysteroid titer begins to decline. This change in timing during the adult molt appears not to be due to the absence of JH as there was no change during the pupal molt of allatectomized animals. When either 4th or 5th instar larval epidermis was explanted and subjected to hormonal manipulations, MsE74A induction occurred only after exposure to 20E followed by its removal. Thus, MsE74B appears to have a similar role at the onset of metamorphosis in Manduca as it does in Drosophila, whereas MsE74A is regulated differently at pupation in Manduca than at pupariation in Drosophila.

Loss of the ecdysteroid-inducible E75A orphan nuclear receptor uncouples molting from metamorphosis in Drosophila

Isoform-specific null mutations were used to define the functions of three orphan members of the nuclear receptor superfamily, E75A, E75B, and E75C, encoded by the E75 early ecdysteroid-inducible gene. E75B mutants are viable and fertile, while E75C mutants die as adults. In contrast, E75A mutants have a reduced ecdysteroid titer during larval development, resulting in developmental delays, developmental arrests, and molting defects. Remarkably, some E75A mutant second instar larvae display a heterochronic phenotype in which they induce genes specific to the third instar and pupariate without undergoing a molt. We propose that ecdysteroid-induced E75A expression defines a feed-forward pathway that amplifies or maintains the ecdysteroid titer during larval development, ensuring proper temporal progression through the life cycle.

AP-1, but not NF-kappa B, is required for efficient steroid-triggered cell death in Drosophila

Extensive studies in vertebrate cells have assigned a central role to Rel/NF-kappa B and AP-1 family members in the control of apoptosis. We ask here whether parallel pathways might function in Drosophila by determining if Rel/NF-kappa B or AP-1 family members contribute to the steroid-triggered death of larval salivary glands during Drosophila metamorphosis. We show that two of the three Drosophila Rel/NF-kappa B genes are expressed in doomed salivary glands and that one family member, Dif, is induced in a stage-specific manner immediately before the onset of programmed cell death. Similarly, Djun is expressed for many hours before salivary gland cell death while Dfos is induced in a stage-specific manner, immediately before this tissue is destroyed. We show that null mutations in the three Drosophila Rel/NF-kappa B family members, either alone or in combination, have no apparent effect on this death response. In contrast, Dfos is required for the proper timing of larval salivary gland cell death as well as the proper induction of key death genes. This study demonstrates a role for AP-1 in the stage-specific steroid-triggered programmed cell death of larval tissues during Drosophila metamorphosis.

Two isoforms of the early E74 gene, an Ets transcription factor homologue, are implicated in the ecdysteroid hierarchy governing vitellogenesis of the mosquito, Aedes aegypti

In the anautogenous mosquito, Aedes aegypti, vitellogenesis is under the strict control of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), which is produced via a blood meal-activated hormonal cascade. Several genes of the ecdysteroid-regulatory hierarchy are conserved between vitellogenesis in mosquitoes and metamorphosis in Drosophila. We report characterization of two isoforms of the mosquito early E74 gene (AaE74), which have a common C-terminal Ets DNA-binding domain and unique N-termini. They exhibited a high level of identity to Drosophila E74 isoforms A and B and showed structural features typical for Ets transcription factors. Both mosquito E74 isoforms bound to an E74 consensus motif C/AGGAA. In the fat body and ovary, the transcript of AaE74 isoform homologous to Drosophila E74B was induced by a blood meal exhibiting its highest level coinciding with the peak of vitellogenesis. In contrast, the transcript of AaE74 isoform homologous to Drosophila E74A was activated at the termination of vitellogenesis. These findings suggest that AaE74A and AaE74B isoforms play different roles in regulation of vitellogenesis in mosquitoes.

Ecdysone-regulated puff genes 2000

The Ashburner model for the hormonal control of polytene chromosome puffing has provided a strong foundation for understanding the basic mechanisms of steroid-regulated gene expression (Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 38 (1974) 655). According to this model, the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (referred here as ecdysone) directly induces the expression of a small set of early regulatory genes. These genes, in turn, induce a much larger set of late target genes that play a more direct role in controlling the biological responses to the hormone. The recent characterization of two early puff genes, E63-1 and E23, and three late puff genes, D-spinophilin, L63, and L82, provide further confirmation of the Ashburner model. In addition, these studies provide exciting new directions for our understanding of ecdysone signaling. Overexpression studies of E63-1 implicate this gene in directing calcium-dependent salivary gland glue secretion. In contrast, overexpression of E23 indicates that this ABC transporter family member may negatively regulate ecdysone signaling by actively transporting the hormone out of target cells. Finally, genetic studies of the L63 and L82 late genes reveal unexpected possible functions for ecdysone in controlling developmental timing and growth. This review surveys the recent characterization of these ecdysone-inducible genes and provides an overview of how they expand our understanding of ecdysone functions during development.

Interactions between the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and cyclic AMP signaling pathways regulate larval molting in Drosophila

Larval molting in Drosophila, as in other insects, is initiated by the coordinated release of the steroid hormone ecdysone, in response to neural signals, at precise stages during development. In this study we have analyzed, using genetic and molecular methods, the roles played by two major signaling pathways in the regulation of larval molting in Drosophila. Previous studies have shown that mutants for the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor gene (itpr) are larval lethals. In addition they exhibit delays in molting that can be rescued by exogenous feeding of 20-hydroxyecdysone. Here we show that mutants for adenylate cyclase (rut) synergize, during larval molting, with itpr mutant alleles, indicating that both cAMP and InsP(3) signaling pathways function in this process. The two pathways act in parallel to affect molting, as judged by phenotypes obtained through expression of dominant negative and dominant active forms of protein kinase A (PKA) in tissues that normally express the InsP(3) receptor. Furthermore, our studies predict the existence of feedback inhibition through protein kinase A on the InsP(3) receptor by increased levels of 20-hydroxyecdysone.

An enhancer trap screen for ecdysone-inducible genes required for Drosophila adult leg morphogenesis

Although extensive studies of Drosophila imaginal disc development have focused on proliferation and patterning, relatively little is known about how the patterned imaginal discs are transformed into adult structures during metamorphosis. Studies focused primarily on leg development have shown that this remarkable transformation is coordinated by pulses of the steroid hormone ecdysone and requires the function of ecdysone-inducible transcription factors as well as proteases and components of the contractile cytoskeleton and adherens junctions. Here, we describe a genetic screen aimed at expanding our understanding of the hormonal regulation of Drosophila adult leg morphogenesis. We screened 1300 lethal P-element enhancer trap insertions on the second chromosome for a series of sequential parameters including pupal lethality, defects in leg morphogenesis, and ecdysone-induced lacZ reporter gene expression. From this screen we identified four mutations, one of which corresponds to bancal, which encodes the Drosophila homolog of hnRNP K. We also identified vulcan, which encodes a protein that shares sequence similarity with a family of rat SAPAP proteins. Both bancal and vulcan are inducible by ecdysone, thus linking the hormone signal with leg morphogenesis. This screen provides new directions for understanding the hormonal regulation of leg development during Drosophila metamorphosis.

Patterns of MHR3 expression in the epidermis during a larval molt of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta

MHR3, an ecdysone-induced transcription factor, was shown to appear in the abdominal epidermis of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta in a pattern-specific manner as the 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) titer rises for the larval molt. The crochet epidermis that forms the hooked setae on the proleg is first to show MHR3 mRNA and protein followed sequentially by the spiracle, the dorsal intrasegmental annuli, the interannular regions, and finally the trichogen and tormogen cells. The protein appears in the nuclei about 8 h before the onset of cuticle formation, is present during the outgrowth of the setae, and disappears after epicuticle formation. In vitro studies showed that MHR3 mRNA induction in the crochet epidermis by 20E was more sensitive (EC(50) = 10(-6) M; 50% induction by 2 h exposure to 4 x 10(-6) M 20E) and did not require protein synthesis for maximal accumulation compared to the dorsal epidermis. The ecdysone receptor complex is present in both tissues at the outset of the molt and therefore is not a determining factor in these responses. Thus, in addition to the ecdysone receptor complex, region-specific factors govern both sensitivity and timing of responsiveness of MHR3 to 20E to ensure that this transcription factor will be present when needed for its differentiative role.

Inducible expression of double-stranded RNA directs specific genetic interference in Drosophila

BACKGROUND

The introduction of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) can selectively interfere with gene expression in a wide variety of organisms, providing an ideal approach for functional genomics. Although this method has been used in Drosophila, it has been limited to studies of embryonic gene function. Only inefficient effects have been seen at later stages of development.

RESULTS

When expressed under the control of a heat-inducible promoter, dsRNA interfered efficiently and specifically with gene expression during larval and prepupal development in Drosophila. Expression of dsRNA corresponding to the EcR ecdysone receptor gene generated defects in larval molting and metamorphosis, resulting in animals that failed to pupariate or prepupae that died with defects in larval tissue cell death and adult leg formation. In contrast, expression of dsRNA corresponding to the coding region of the betaFTZ-F1 orphan nuclear receptor had no effect on puparium formation, but led to an arrest of prepupal development, generating more severe lethal phenotypes than those seen with a weak betaFTZ-F1 loss-of-function allele. Animals that expressed either EcR or betaFTZ-F1 dsRNA showed defects in the expression of corresponding target genes, indicating that the observed developmental defects are caused by disruption of the genetic cascades that control the onset of metamorphosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These results confirm and extend our understanding of EcR and betaFTZ-F1 function. They also demonstrate that dsRNA expression can inactivate Drosophila gene function at later stages of development, providing a new tool for functional genomic studies in Drosophila.

The E23 early gene of Drosophila encodes an ecdysone-inducible ATP-binding cassette transporter capable of repressing ecdysone-mediated gene activation

At the onset of Drosophila metamorphosis, the steroid hormone 20-OH ecdysone directly induces a small number of early puffs in the polytene chromosomes of the larval salivary gland. Proteins encoded by the early genes corresponding to these transcriptional puffs then regulate the activity of both the early puffs themselves and a much larger set of late puffs. Three of these early genes encode transcription factors that play critical regulatory roles during metamorphosis. Here we report the cloning, DNA sequence, genomic structure, ecdysone inducibility, and temporal expression of an early gene residing in the 23E early puff and denoted E23 (Early gene at 23). In contrast to other early genes, E23 encodes a protein with similarity to ATP-binding cassette transporters. Using heat shock-inducible transgenes, we found that E23 overexpression not only produces phenotypic abnormalities and lethality, but also interferes with ecdysone-mediated gene activation, demonstrating that E23 is capable of modulating the ecdysone response. Our results suggest the existence of a previously unrecognized regulatory mechanism for modulating steroid hormone signaling in Drosophila.

The L63 gene is necessary for the ecdysone-induced 63E late puff and encodes CDK proteins required for Drosophila development

The pulse of ecdysone that triggers Drosophila metamorphosis activates six early genes in a primary response made visible by polytene chromosome puffs. The secondary response is detected by the induction of over 100 late puffs, only a few of which have been subject to molecular genetic analysis. We present a molecular and mutational analysis of the L63 gene responsible for the late puff at 63E. This gene contains overlapping L63A, B, and C transcription units of which the A unit encodes two isoforms and the B unit three. The C unit, which exhibits little activity, encodes one of the B isoforms. Evidence that L63B, but not L63A, transcription is ecdysone responsive derives from their developmental transcription profiles and from P-element mutagenesis showing that ecdysone induction of the 63E puff requires sequences adjacent to the 5' end of L63B but not those adjacent to the 5' end of L63A. L63-specific lethal mutations showed that L63 is required not only for metamorphosis, but also maternally and for embryonic and larval development. The L63 proteins contain a common C-terminal 294-aa sequence that is 71% identical to the CDK sequence of the murine PFTAIRE protein. In vivo tests of L63 proteins altered by site-directed mutagenesis showed that they exhibit CDK functions. L63 proteins are widely distributed among late larval and prepupal tissues and are unlikely to be involved in cell cycle functions.

The ecdysone regulatory pathway controls wing morphogenesis and integrin expression during Drosophila metamorphosis

Drosophila imaginal discs are specified and patterned during embryonic and larval development, resulting in each cell acquiring a specific fate in the adult fly. Morphogenesis and differentiation of imaginal tissues, however, does not occur until metamorphosis, when pulses of the steroid hormone ecdysone direct these complex morphogenetic responses. In this paper, we focus on the role of ecdysone in regulating adult wing development during metamorphosis. We show that mutations in the EcR ecdysone receptor gene and crooked legs (crol), an ecdysone-inducible gene that encodes a family of zinc finger proteins, cause similar defects in wing morphogenesis and cell adhesion, indicating a role for ecdysone in these morphogenetic responses. We also show that crol and EcR mutations interact with mutations in genes encoding integrin subunits-a family of alphabeta heterodimeric cell surface receptors that mediate cell adhesion in many organisms. alpha-Integrin transcription is regulated by ecdysone in cultured larval organs and some changes in the temporal patterns of integrin expression correlate with the ecdysone titer profile during metamorphosis. Transcription of alpha- and beta-integrin subunits is also altered in crol and EcR mutants, indicating that integrin expression is dependent upon crol and EcR function. Finally, we describe a new hypomorphic mutation in EcR which indicates that different EcR isoforms can direct the development of adult appendages. This study provides evidence that ecdysone controls wing morphogenesis and cell adhesion by regulating integrin expression during metamorphosis. We also propose that ecdysone modulation of integrin expression might be widely used to control multiple aspects of adult development.

The 82F late puff contains the L82 gene, an essential member of a novel gene family

Metamorphosis in Drosophila results from a hierarchy of ecdysone-induced gene expression initiated at the end of the third larval instar. A now classical model of this hierarchy was proposed based on observations of the activity of polytene chromosome "puffs" which distinguished "early" puffs as those directly induced by ecdysone and "late" puffs as those which become active as a secondary response to the hormone. We report here the isolation and characterization of the L82 gene corresponding to the extensively characterized late puff at 82F. L82 is a complex gene that spans at least 50 kb of genomic DNA, produces at least seven different nested mRNAs, and has homology to a novel gene family. In contrast to most previously characterized puff genes, the broad developmental expression pattern of L82 suggests that it is controlled by both ecdysone-dependent and ecdysone-independent regulatory mechanisms. L82 mutations were identified by transgene rescue of developmental delay and eclosion lethal phenotypes.

DHR3 is required for the prepupal-pupal transition and differentiation of adult structures during Drosophila metamorphosis

Pulses of the steroid hormone ecdysone activate genetic regulatory hierarchies that coordinate the developmental changes associated with Drosophila metamorphosis. A high-titer ecdysone pulse at the end of larval development triggers puparium formation and induces expression of the DHR3 orphan nuclear receptor. Here we use both a heat-inducible DHR3 rescue construct and clonal analysis to define DHR3 functions during metamorphosis. Clonal analysis reveals requirements for DHR3 in the development of adult bristles, wings, and cuticle, and no apparent function in eye or leg development. DHR3 mutants rescued to the third larval instar also reveal essential functions during the onset of metamorphosis, leading to lethality during prepupal and early pupal stages. The phenotypes associated with these lethal phases are consistent with the effects of DHR3 mutations on ecdysone-regulated gene expression. Although DHR3 has been shown to be sufficient for early gene repression at puparium formation, it is not necessary for this response, indicating that other negative regulators may contribute to this pathway. In contrast, DHR3 is required for maximal expression of the midprepupal regulatory genes, EcR, E74B, and betaFTZ-1. Reductions in EcR and betaFTZ-F1 expression, in turn, lead to submaximal early gene induction in response to the prepupal ecdysone pulse and corresponding defects in adult head eversion and salivary gland cell death. These studies demonstrate that DHR3 is an essential regulator of the betaFTZ-F1 midprepupal competence factor, providing a functional link between the late larval and prepupal responses to ecdysone. Induction of DHR3 in early prepupae ensures that responses to the prepupal ecdysone pulse will be distinct from responses to the late larval pulse and thus that the animal progresses in an appropriate manner through the early stages of metamorphosis.

The acquisition of competence to respond to ecdysone in Drosophila is transcript specific

The steroid hormone ecdysone induces a precise sequence of gene activity in Drosophila melanogaster salivary glands in late third larval instar larvae. The acquisition of competence for this response does not result from a single event or pathway but requires factors that accumulate throughout the instar. Individual transcripts become competent to respond at different times and their expression is differentially affected in ecd1, dor22 and BR-C mutants. The induction of early-late transcripts, originally assumed to necessarily follow early transcripts, is partially independent of early transcript activation. Attempts to inhibit the synthesis of regulatory proteins reveal transcript-specific superinduction effects. Furthermore these inhibitors lead to the induction of betaFTZ-F1 and E93 transcripts at levels normally found in prepupal glands. These studies reveal the complexity of the processes underlying the establishment of a hormonal response.

The RXR homolog ultraspiracle is an essential component of the Drosophila ecdysone receptor

Pulses of the steroid hormone ecdysone function as key temporal signals during insect development, coordinating the major postembryonic developmental transitions, including molting and metamorphosis. In vitro studies have demonstrated that the EcR ecdysone receptor requires an RXR heterodimer partner for its activity, encoded by the ultraspiracle (usp) locus. We show here that usp exerts no apparent function in mid-third instar larvae, when a regulatory hierarchy prepares the animal for the onset of metamorphosis. Rather, usp is required in late third instar larvae for appropriate developmental and transcriptional responses to the ecdysone pulse that triggers puparium formation. The imaginal discs in usp mutants begin to evert but do not elongate or differentiate, the larval midgut and salivary glands fail to undergo programmed cell death and the adult midgut fails to form. Consistent with these developmental phenotypes, usp mutants show pleiotropic defects in ecdysone-regulated gene expression at the larval-prepupal transition. usp mutants also recapitulate aspects of a larval molt at puparium formation, forming a supernumerary cuticle. These observations indicate that usp is required for ecdysone receptor activity in vivo, demonstrate that the EcR/USP heterodimer functions in a stage-specific manner during the onset of metamorphosis and implicate a role for usp in the decision to molt or pupariate in response to ecdysone pulses during larval development.

The DHR78 nuclear receptor is required for ecdysteroid signaling during the onset of Drosophila metamorphosis

Pulses of ecdysteroids direct Drosophila through its life cycle by activating stage- and tissue-specific genetic regulatory hierarchies. Here we show that an orphan nuclear receptor, DHR78, functions at the top of the ecdysteroid regulatory hierarchies. Null mutations in DHR78 lead to lethality during the third larval instar with defects in ecdysteroid-triggered developmental responses. Consistent with these phenotypes, DHR78 mutants fail to activate the mid-third instar regulatory hierarchy that prepares the animal for metamorphosis. DHR78 protein is bound to many ecdysteroid-regulated puff loci, suggesting that DHR78 directly regulates puff gene expression. In addition, ectopic expression of DHR78 has no effects on development, indicating that its activity is regulated post-translationally. We propose that DHR78 is a ligand-activated receptor that plays a central role in directing the onset of Drosophila metamorphosis.

crooked legs encodes a family of zinc finger proteins required for leg morphogenesis and ecdysone-regulated gene expression during Drosophila metamorphosis

Drosophila imaginal discs undergo extensive pattern formation during larval development, resulting in each cell acquiring a specific adult fate. The final manifestation of this pattern into adult structures is dependent on pulses of the steroid hormone ecdysone during metamorphosis, which trigger disc eversion, elongation and differentiation. We have defined genetic criteria that allow us to screen for ecdysone-inducible regulatory genes that are required for this transformation from patterned disc to adult structure. We describe here the first genetic locus isolated using these criteria: crooked legs (crol). crol mutants die during pupal development with defects in adult head eversion and leg morphogenesis. The crol gene is induced by ecdysone during the onset of metamorphosis and encodes at least three protein isoforms that contain 12–18 C2H2 zinc fingers. Consistent with this sequence motif, crol mutations have stage-specific effects on ecdysone-regulated gene expression. The EcR ecdysone receptor, and the BR-C, E74 and E75 early regulatory genes, are submaximally induced in crol mutants in response to the prepupal ecdysone pulse. These changes in gene activity are consistent with the crol lethal phenotypes and provide a basis for understanding the molecular mechanisms of crol action. The genetic criteria described here provide a new direction for identifying regulators of adult tissue development during insect metamorphosis.

An ecdysteroid-responsive gene in a lobster - a potential crustacean member of the steroid hormone receptor superfamily

The role of ecdysteroids in modulating exoskeletal growth during the moult cycle of Crustacea has been well described. However, little is known about the action of ecdysteroids at the level of gene transcription and regulation in Crustacea. This paper reports the cloning of an ecdysteroid responsive gene, HHR3, a potential Manduca sexta MHR3 homologue in the American lobster, Homarus americanus. Levels of HHR3 expression are up-regulated in response to in vivo injections of premoult concentrations (10(-6) M) of 20-hydroxyecdysone in the epidermal and muscle tissue of the lobster after 6 h. Maximal mRNA levels are observed after 21 h before returning to basal levels. In muscle tissue, elevated levels of HHR3 mRNA follow a time course similar to elevated actin mRNA expression in response to hormonal injection. In contrast, in eyestalk tissue, the HHR3 levels decline up to 21 h post-injection before rising to basal levels after 48 h. Eyestalk, epidermal and leg muscle tissue was extracted over the moult cycle to determine the levels of expression. In muscle, HHR3 is high during the premoult period that corresponds to the period of the moult cycle when the ecdysteroid titre is high. In the epidermis, HHR3 levels are also high during the premoult with elevated levels maintained into the postmoult period. In the eyestalk, mRNA levels of HHR3 show an opposite pattern of expression with low levels during premoult and postmoult and high levels found during the intermoult period. Our results provide novel evidence for an ecdysteroid responsive gene in a crustacean that has many similarities to MHR3 in Manduca and DHR3 in Drosophila melanogaster. This raises the question of whether a similar cascade of ecdysteroid responsive genes exist in other members of Arthropoda such as the Crustacea, as has been demonstrated in Drosophila. In addition, we provide further evidence for negative feedback regulation of ecdysteroids at the site of moult-inhibiting hormone (MIH) production in the lobster eyestalk.

Analysis of exon/intron structure and 400 kb of genomic sequence surrounding the 5'-promoter and 3'-terminal ends of the human glypican 3 (GPC3) gene

GPC3, the gene modified in the Simpson-Golabi-Behmel gigantism/overgrowth syndrome (SGBS), is shown to span more than 500 kb of genomic sequence, with the transcript beginning 197 bp 5' of the translational start site. The Xq26.1 region containing GPC3 as the only known gene has been extended to > 900 kb by sequence analysis of flanking BAC clones. Two GC isochores (40.6 and 42.6% GC) are observed at the 5' and 3' ends of the locus, with a large repertoire of repetitive sequences that includes an unusual cluster of four L1 elements > 92% identical over 2.8 kb. Eight exons, accounting for the full 2.4-kb GPC3 cDNA, have been sequenced along with neighboring intronic regions. PCR assays have been developed to amplify each exon and exon/intron junction sequence, to help discriminate instances of SGBS among individuals with overgrowth syndromes and to facilitate mutational analysis of lesions in the gene.

Disruption of the IP3 receptor gene of Drosophila affects larval metamorphosis and ecdysone release

BACKGROUND

The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor is an intracellular calcium channel that couples cell membrane receptors, via the second messenger IP3, to calcium signal transduction pathways within many types of cells. IP3 receptor function has been implicated in development, but the physiological processes affected by its function have yet to be elucidated. In order to identify these processes, we generated mutants in the IP3 receptor gene (itpr) of Drosophila and studied their phenotype during development.

RESULTS

All itpr mutant alleles were lethal. Lethality occurred primarily during the larval stages and was preceded by delayed moulting. Insect moulting occurs in response to the periodic release of the steroid hormone ecdysone which, in Drosophila, is synthesized and secreted by the ring gland. The observation of delayed moulting in the mutants, coupled with the expression of the IP3 receptor in the larval ring gland led us to examine the effect of the itpr alleles on ecdysone levels. On feeding ecdysone to mutant larvae, a partial rescue of the itpr phenotype was observed. In order to assess ecdysone levels at all larval stages, we examined transcripts of an ecdysone-inducible gene, E74; these transcripts were downregulated in larvae expressing each of the itpr alleles.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show that disruption of the Drosophila IP3 receptor gene leads to lowered levels of ecdysone. Synthesis and release of ecdysone from the ring gland is thought to occur in response to a neurosecretory peptide hormone secreted by the brain. We propose that this peptide hormone requires an IP3 signalling pathway for ecdysone synthesis and release in Drosophila and other insects. This signal transduction mechanism which links neuropeptide hormones to steroid hormone secretion might be evolutionarily conserved.

Coordination of larval and prepupal gene expression by the DHR3 orphan receptor during Drosophila metamorphosis

The DHR3 orphan receptor gene is induced directly by the steroid hormone ecdysone at the onset of Drosophila metamorphosis. DHR3 expression peaks in early prepupae, as the early puff genes are repressed and betaFTZ-F1 is induced. Here we provide evidence that DHR3 directly contributes to both of these regulatory responses. DHR3 protein is bound to many ecdysone-induced puffs in the polytene chromosomes, including the early puffs that encode the BR-C and E74 regulatory genes, as well as the E75, E78 and betaFTZ-F1 orphan receptor loci. Three DHR3 binding sites were identified downstream from the start site of betaFTZ-F1 transcription, further indicating that this gene is a direct target of DHR3 regulation. Ectopic expression of DHR3 revealed that the polytene chromosome binding pattern is of functional significance. DHR3 is sufficient to repress BR-C, E74A, E75A and E78B transcription as well as induce betaFTZ-F1. DHR3 thus appears to function as a switch that defines the larval-prepupal transition by arresting the early regulatory response to ecdysone at puparium formation and facilitating the induction of the betaFTZ-F1 competence factor in mid-prepupae. This study also provides evidence for direct cross-regulation among orphan members of the nuclear receptor superfamily and further implicates these genes as critical transducers of the hormonal signal during the onset of Drosophila metamorphosis.

A steroid-triggered switch in E74 transcription factor isoforms regulates the timing of secondary-response gene expression

The steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (referred to here as ecdysone) directs Drosophila metamorphosis by activating a series of genetic regulatory hierarchies. ETS domain transcription factors encoded by the ecdysone-inducible E74 early gene, E74A and E74B, act at the top of these hierarchies to coordinate the induction of target genes. We have ectopically expressed these E74 isoforms to understand their regulatory functions during the onset of metamorphosis. We show that E74 can regulate its own transcription, most likely through binding sites within its gene. Ectopic expression of E74B can partially repress the E78B and DHR3 orphan receptor genes, suggesting a role for E74 in the appropriate timing of early-late gene expression. Furthermore, E74A is both necessary and sufficient for E78B induction, implicating E74A as a key regulator of E78B expression. We also show, consistent with our studies of E74 loss-of-function mutations, that E74B is a potent repressor of late gene transcription and E74A is sufficient to prematurely induce the L71-1 late gene. However, ectopic expression of both Broad-Complex and E74A activators in an E74B mutant background is not sufficient to prematurely induce all late genes, indicating that other factors contribute to this regulatory circuit. These observations demonstrate that the steroid-triggered switch in E74 transcription factor isoforms plays a central role in the proper timing of secondary-response gene expression.

Regulation of the EDG84A gene by FTZ-F1 during metamorphosis in Drosophila melanogaster

The transcription factor FTZ-F1 is a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily and is transiently expressed during the mid- and late prepupal periods in Drosophila melanogaster. A putative pupal cuticle gene, EDG84A, is expressed slightly following FTZ-F1 expression during the prepupal period and carries a strong FTZ-F1 binding site between bases 100 and 92 upstream of its transcription start site. In this study, EDG84A mRNA was found to be prematurely expressed upon heat induction of FTZ-F1 in prepupae carrying the heat shock promoter-FTZ-F1 cDNA fusion gene construct. Transgenic fly lines having the 0.8-kb region of the EDG84A promoter fused to lacZ expressed the reporter gene in a tissue- and stage-specific manner. Base substitutions in the FTZ-F1 binding site within the 0.8-kb promoter abolished expression of lacZ. These results strongly suggest that the EDG84A gene is a direct target of FTZ-F1. Deletion studies of the cis-regulatory region of the EDG84A gene revealed that space-specific expression in imaginal disc-derived epidermis is controlled by the region between bp -408 and -104 from the transcription start site. The region between bp -408 and -194 is necessary to repress expression in a posterior part of the body, while the region between bp -193 and -104 carries a positive element for activation in an anterior part of the body. These results suggest that FTZ-F1 governs expression of the EDG84A gene in conjunction with putative tissue-specific regulators.

Flies on steroids--Drosophila metamorphosis and the mechanisms of steroid hormone action

Recent studies have provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms by which the steroid hormone ecdysone triggers the larval-to-adult metamorphosis of Drosophila. Ecdysone-induced transcription factors activate large sets of secondary-response genes and provide the competence for subsequent regulatory responses to the hormone. It seems likely that similar hormone-triggered regulatory hierarchies exist in other higher organisms and that Drosophila is providing our first glimpses of the complexities of these gene networks.

Insect nuclear receptors: a developmental and comparative perspective

The appearance of puffs on the polytene chromosomes of insect salivary glands incubated with 20-hydroxyecdysone provided the first demonstration that steroids act directly at the gene transcriptional level to bring about subsequent cellular changes (Becker, 1959; Clever and Karlson, 1960). Despite that auspicious beginning, learning about the molecular mechanisms that underlie the hormonal regulation of insect development was impeded for many years by the difficulty associated with isolating and identifying rare regulatory factors from limited tissue sources. The advent of recombinant DNA methodology and powerful techniques such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) along with the recognition that many important endocrine factors are structurally conserved across a wide range of species has, however, all but eliminated the technical obstacles once facing the insect endocrinologist trying to isolate and study these regulatory molecules. This review will discuss recent progress and recall some earlier experiments concerning the molecular basis of hormonal action in insects focusing primarily on the members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily in Drosophila melanogaster. Two members of this family comprise the functional ecdysteroid receptor and at least a dozen other "orphans" have been identified in Drosophila for which no cognate ligand has yet been found. Many of these orphans are regulated by ecdysteroids. A discussion of juvenile hormone binding proteins that are not family members has been included because of their potential impact on nuclear receptor function. As receptor homologues have been identified in other insects, several general ideas concerning insect hormonal regulation have begun to emerge and these will be examined from a comparative point of view.

The Drosophila 63F early puff contains E63-1, an ecdysone-inducible gene that encodes a novel Ca(2+)-binding protein

Pulses of ecdysone at the end of Drosophila larval development dramatically reprogram gene expression as they signal the onset of metamorphosis. Ecdysone directly induces several early puffs in the salivary gland polytene chromosomes that, in turn, activate many late puffs. Three early puffs, at 2B5, 74EF, and 75B, have been studied at the molecular level. Each contains a single ecdysone primary-response gene that encodes a family of widely expressed transcription factors. We report here a molecular characterization of the 63F early puff. Unexpectedly, we have found this locus to be significantly different from the previously characterized early puff loci. First, the 63F puff contains a pair of ecdysone-inducible genes that are transcribed in the larval salivary glands: E63-1 and E63-2. Second, E63-1 induction in late third instar larvae appears to be highly tissue-specific, restricted to the salivary gland. Third, E63-1 encodes a novel Ca(2+)-binding protein related to calmodulin. The discovery of an ecdysone-inducible Ca(2+)-binding protein provides a foundation for integrating steroid hormone and calcium second messenger signaling pathways and generates an additional level for potential regulation of the ecdysone response.

The Drosophila E74 gene is required for metamorphosis and plays a role in the polytene chromosome puffing response to ecdysone

The steroid hormone ecdysone initiates Drosophila metamorphosis by reprogramming gene expression during late larval and prepupal development. The ecdysone-inducible gene E74, a member of the ets proto-oncogene family, has been proposed to play a key role in this process. E74 is encoded within the 74EF early puff and consists of two overlapping transcription units, E74A and E74B. To assess the function(s) of E74 during metamorphosis, we have isolated and characterized recessive loss-of-function mutations specific to each transcription unit. We find that mutations in E74A and E74B are predominantly lethal during prepupal and pupal development, consistent with a critical role for their gene products in metamorphosis. Phenotypic analysis reveals that E74 function is required for both pupariation and pupation, and for the metamorphosis of both larval and imaginal tissues. E74B mutants are defective in puparium formation and head eversion and die as prepupae or cryptocephalic pupae, while E74A mutants pupariate normally and die either as prepupae or pharate adults. We have also investigated the effects of the E74 mutations on gene expression by examining the puffing pattern of the salivary gland polytene chromosomes in newly formed mutant prepupae. Most puffs are only modestly affected by the E74B mutation, whereas a subset of late puffs are sub-maximally induced in E74A mutant prepupae. These observations are consistent with Ashburner's proposal that early puff proteins induce the formation of late puffs, and define E74A as a regulator of late puff activity. They also demonstrate that E74 plays a wide role in reshaping the insect during metamorphosis, affecting tissues other than the salivary gland in which it was originally identified.

The Drosophila E74 gene is required for the proper stage- and tissue-specific transcription of ecdysone-regulated genes at the onset of metamorphosis

The steroid hormone ecdysone directly induces a small set of early genes, visible as puffs in the larval salivary gland polytene chromosomes, as it signals the onset of Drosophila metamorphorsis. The products of these genes appear to function as regulators that both repress their own expression and induce a large set of secondary-response late genes. We have identified recessive loss-of-function mutations in the early gene E74, a member of the ets protooncogene family that encodes two related DNA-binding proteins, E74A and E74B. These mutations cause defects in pupariation and pupation, and result in lethality during metamorphosis. Here we extend our phenotypic characterization of the E74A and E74B mutant alleles to the molecular level by examining their effects on the transcription of over 30 ecdysone-regulated genes. We show that the transcription of most ecdysone primary-response genes during late larval and prepupal development is unaffected by the E74 mutations. Rather, we find that E74 is necessary for the appropriate regulation of many ecdysone secondary-response genes. E74B is required for the maximal induction of glue genes in mid third instar larval salivary glands, while E74A is required in early prepupae for the proper timing and maximal induction of a subset of late genes. E74 activity is also necessary for the correct regulation of genes expressed predominantly in the fat body, epidermis or imaginal discs. These observations confirm that E74 plays a critical role in regulating transcription during the early stages of Drosophila metamorphosis. In addition, the widespread effects of the E74 mutations on transcription indicate that E74 functions in regulatory hierarchies not only in the larval salivary gland, but throughout the entire organism.

The role of the BR-C locus on the expression of genes located at the ecdysone-regulated 3C puff of Drosophila melanogaster

During the third larval instar, the steroid moulting hormone ecdysone activates three temporally distinct puff sets on the D. melanogaster salivary gland polytene chromosome: the so-called intermoult, early and late puffs. Hormonal regulation of intermoult puffs is quite complex and, so far, largely not understood. In order to further investigate this aspect, we have analysed the effects of mutations in a key regulator of the ecdysone response at the onset of metamorphosis, the Broad-Complex (BR-C) locus, on the expression of genes mapping at the 3C intermoult puff. On the basis of an accurate examination of 3C intermoult gene activity in single, carefully staged, third instar larvae of wild-type and BR-C mutant strains, we were able to subdivide these genes into two groups. Each group is characterised by a different temporal expression profile, so that at the beginning of the wandering stage the transcription of the first group declines as group II transcription is induced. Interestingly, the BR-C locus appears to play a regulatory role in establishing this transcriptional switch. By using mutants of each of the three lethal complementation groups, we precisely defined the role of BR-C functions in this developmental transition and we show that this locus also plays an essential role in the early pre-metamorphic hormonal response.

The human dystrophin gene requires 16 hours to be transcribed and is cotranscriptionally spliced

The largest known gene is the human dystrophin gene, which has 79 exons spanning at least 2,300 kilobases (kb). Transcript accumulation was monitored from four regions of the gene following induction of expression in muscle cell cultures. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results indicate that approximately 12 h are required for transcription of 1,770 kb (at an average elongation rate of 2.4 kb min-1), extrapolating to a transcription time of 16 h for the complete gene. Accumulation profiles for spliced and total transcript demonstrated that transcripts are spliced at the 5' end before transcription is complete providing strong evidence for cotranscriptional splicing. The rate of transcript accumulation was reduced at the 3' end of the gene relative to the 5' end, perhaps due to premature termination of transcription complexes.

Comparison of ecdysteroid production in Drosophila and Manduca: pharmacology and cross-species neural reactivity

In both Manduca sexta and Drosophila melanogaster, metamorphic events are driven by ecdysteroids whose production in prothoracic gland (PGs) is stimulated periodically by neural factors. Differences in the life cycle of moths and flies have made it difficult to compare the regulation of ecdysteroid biosynthesis in these two species. As in Manduca, at least two neural factors in the larval Drosophila BVG complex were separable by molecular weight, and they stimulated increased ecdysteroid biosynthesis from the ring gland, a composite organ that includes PG cells. Drosophila neural extracts accelerated ecdysteroid biosynthesis in Manduca PGs and, conversely, partially purified Manduca PTTH preparations elevated ecdysteroid biosynthesis in Drosophila ring glands, suggesting that the two species may share structurally similar prothoracicotropic factors. Drosophila ring glands required the presence of calcium ions to respond to neural extracts, but the phosphodiesterase inhibitor MIX and cAMP analogues exerted little, if any, positive effect on production. Mean ecdysteroid production rates of BVG-ring gland complexes taken from Drosophila larvae during various phases of the wandering period were often submaximal and highly variable, suggesting that they fluctuate widely prior to pupariation. Based on available data in Drosophila and the Manduca model for the control of ecdysteroid biosynthesis, a developmental scheme for neuroendocrine control in Drosophila is proposed.

A molecular mechanism for the stage specificity of the Drosophila prepupal genetic response to ecdysone

Two successive pulses of ecdysone signal the ends of larval and prepupal development in Drosophila, inducing early and late puffs in the salivary gland polytene chromosomes. Early puff induction in prepupae is dependent on a preceding period of protein synthesis and low ecdysone concentration. We demonstrate here that the competence acquired during this interval can be provided by beta FTZ-F1, a nuclear hormone receptor superfamily member derived from the 75CD mid-prepupal puff. We show that beta FTZ-F1 represses its own transcription and is repressed by ecdysone, explaining its brief expression in mid-prepupae. We further show that ectopic beta FTZ-F1 expression leads to enhanced levels of ecdysone-induced BR-C, E74, and E75 early gene transcription and premature induction of the stage-specific 93F early puff and E93 transcription. These findings indicate that beta FTZ-F1 plays a central role in the prepupal genetic response to ecdysone and provide a molecular mechanism for stage-specific responses to steroid hormones.

Isolation and characterization of fifteen ecdysone-inducible Drosophila genes reveal unexpected complexities in ecdysone regulation

Our insights into the regulatory mechanisms by which the steroid hormone ecdysone triggers Drosophila melanogaster metamorphosis have largely depended on puffs in the larval salivary gland polytene chromosomes as a means of identifying genes of interest. Here, we describe an approach that provides access to ecdysone-inducible genes that are expressed in most larval and imaginal tissues, regardless of their ability to form puffs in the polytene chromosomes. Several hundred cDNAs were picked at random from subtracted cDNA libraries and subjected to a rapid and sensitive screen for their ability to detect mRNAs induced by ecdysone in the presence of cycloheximide. Of the 15 genes identified in this manner, 2 correspond to early puffs in the salivary gland polytene chromosomes, at 63F and 75B, confirming that this screen functions at the desired level of sensitivity and is capable of identifying novel primary-response genes. Three of the genes, Eig45-1, Eig58, and Eig87, are expressed coordinately with the salivary gland early genes; one of them, Eig58, maps to the 58BC puff that is active when the 74EF and 75B early puffs are at their maximal size. Another gene identified in this screen, Eig17-1, encodes a novel cytochrome P-450. On the basis of its sequence identity and temporal profile of expression, this gene may play a role in steroid hormone metabolism and thus could provide a mechanism for feedback regulation of ecdysone production. Although all 15 genes have patterns of transcription that are consistent with ecdysone regulation in vivo, 5 genes do not appear to be induced by the late larval ecdysone pulse. This indicates that ecdysone induction in larval organs cultured with cycloheximide is not always indicative of a primary response to the hormone.

Isolation and characterization of fifteen ecdysone-inducible Drosophila genes reveal unexpected complexities in ecdysone regulation

Our insights into the regulatory mechanisms by which the steroid hormone ecdysone triggers Drosophila melanogaster metamorphosis have largely depended on puffs in the larval salivary gland polytene chromosomes as a means of identifying genes of interest. Here, we describe an approach that provides access to ecdysone-inducible genes that are expressed in most larval and imaginal tissues, regardless of their ability to form puffs in the polytene chromosomes. Several hundred cDNAs were picked at random from subtracted cDNA libraries and subjected to a rapid and sensitive screen for their ability to detect mRNAs induced by ecdysone in the presence of cycloheximide. Of the 15 genes identified in this manner, 2 correspond to early puffs in the salivary gland polytene chromosomes, at 63F and 75B, confirming that this screen functions at the desired level of sensitivity and is capable of identifying novel primary-response genes. Three of the genes, Eig45-1, Eig58, and Eig87, are expressed coordinately with the salivary gland early genes; one of them, Eig58, maps to the 58BC puff that is active when the 74EF and 75B early puffs are at their maximal size. Another gene identified in this screen, Eig17-1, encodes a novel cytochrome P-450. On the basis of its sequence identity and temporal profile of expression, this gene may play a role in steroid hormone metabolism and thus could provide a mechanism for feedback regulation of ecdysone production. Although all 15 genes have patterns of transcription that are consistent with ecdysone regulation in vivo, 5 genes do not appear to be induced by the late larval ecdysone pulse. This indicates that ecdysone induction in larval organs cultured with cycloheximide is not always indicative of a primary response to the hormone.

The Drosophila 78C early late puff contains E78, an ecdysone-inducible gene that encodes a novel member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily

We report the molecular definition of an early late puff locus, at position 78C, that is inducible by ecdysone at the onset of Drosophila metamorphosis. This puff contains a single ecdysone-inducible gene consisting of two nested transcription units, E78A and E78B. E78A mRNA is expressed during a brief interval in mid-pupal development and encodes a novel member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. E78B encodes a truncated receptor isoform that lacks the DNA-binding domain and is predominantly expressed at puparium formation and immediately following E78A in pupae. E78B is directly inducible by ecdysone in late third instar larvae and depends on ecdysone-induced protein synthesis for its maximal level of expression. These observations indicate that E78 represents a distinct subset of early ecdysone-inducible regulatory genes.

A unique ribonucleoprotein complex assembles preferentially on ecdysone-responsive sites in Drosophila melanogaster

The protein on ecdysone puffs (PEP) is associated preferentially with active ecdysone-inducible puffs on Drosophila polytene chromosomes and contains sequence motifs characteristic of transcription factors and RNA-binding proteins (S. A. Amero, S. C. R. Elgin, and A. L. Beyer, Genes Dev. 5:188-200, 1991). PEP is associated with RNA in vivo, as demonstrated here by the sensitivity of PEP-specific chromosomal immunostaining in situ to RNase digestion and by the immunopurification of PEP in Drosophila cell extract with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) complexes. As revealed by sequential immunostaining, PEP is found on a subset of chromosomal sites bound by the HRB (heterogeneous nuclear RNA-binding) proteins, which are basic Drosophila hnRNPs. These observations lead us to suggest that a unique, PEP-containing hnRNP complex assembles preferentially on the transcripts of ecdysone-regulated genes in Drosophila melanogaster presumably to expedite the transcription and/or processing of these transcripts.

A unique ribonucleoprotein complex assembles preferentially on ecdysone-responsive sites in Drosophila melanogaster

The protein on ecdysone puffs (PEP) is associated preferentially with active ecdysone-inducible puffs on Drosophila polytene chromosomes and contains sequence motifs characteristic of transcription factors and RNA-binding proteins (S. A. Amero, S. C. R. Elgin, and A. L. Beyer, Genes Dev. 5:188-200, 1991). PEP is associated with RNA in vivo, as demonstrated here by the sensitivity of PEP-specific chromosomal immunostaining in situ to RNase digestion and by the immunopurification of PEP in Drosophila cell extract with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) complexes. As revealed by sequential immunostaining, PEP is found on a subset of chromosomal sites bound by the HRB (heterogeneous nuclear RNA-binding) proteins, which are basic Drosophila hnRNPs. These observations lead us to suggest that a unique, PEP-containing hnRNP complex assembles preferentially on the transcripts of ecdysone-regulated genes in Drosophila melanogaster presumably to expedite the transcription and/or processing of these transcripts.