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The Expression and Function of the Achaete-Scute Genes in Tribolium castaneum Reveals Conservation and Variation in Neural Pattern Formation and Cell Fate SpecificationSUMMARY The study of achaete-scute (ac/sc) genes has recently become a paradigm to understand the evolution and development of the arthropod nervous system. We describe the identification and characterization of the ache genes in the coleopteran insect species Tribolium castaneum. We have identified two Tribolium ache genes - achaete-scute homolog (Tc-ASH) a proneural gene and asense (Tc-ase) a neural precursor gene that reside in a gene complex. Focusing on the embryonic central nervous system we fmd that Tc-ASH is expressed in all neural precursors and the proneural clusters from which they segregate. Through RNAi and misexpression studies we show that Tc-ASH is necessary for neural precursor formation in Triboliurn and sufficient for neural precursor formation in Drosophila. Comparison of the function of the Drosophila and Triboliurn proneural ac/sc genes suggests that in the Drosophila lineage these genes have maintained their ancestral function in neural precursor formation and have acquired a new role in the fate specification of individual neural precursors. Furthermore, we find that Tc-use is expressed in all neural precursors suggesting an important and conserved role for asense genes in insect nervous system development. Our analysis of the Triboliurn ache genes indicates significant plasticity in gene number, expression and function, and implicates these modifications in the evolution of arthropod neural development.
Document ID
20060026112
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Wheeler, Scott R.
(Washington Univ. Saint Louis, MO, United States)
Carrico, Michelle L.
(Washington Univ. Saint Louis, MO, United States)
Wilson, Beth A.
(Washington Univ. Saint Louis, MO, United States)
Brown, Susan J.
(Kansas State Univ. Manhattan, KS, United States)
Skeath, James B.
(Washington Univ. Saint Louis, MO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Publication Information
Publication: Development
Volume: 130
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NS36570
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG2-1500
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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