Abstract
The Notch pathway mediates cell fate choice in many species and developmental contexts. In the Drosophila mesoderm, phenotypic differences were observed when different components of the pathway were defective. To determine if these differences reflect variations in the signaling pathway or in the persistence of wild-type maternal products, we examined muscle precursors in embryos that lacked both maternally- and zygotically-derived gene products, called holonull embryos. Most holonull neurogenic embryos have the same number and arrangement of extra muscle precursors, but in Notch holonull embryos many additional cells also become muscle precursors. Thus Notch is active in cells where its known ligands and downstream effectors are not. These results indicate that Notch acts in two pathways to determine cell fates in mesoderm: the Delta-to-Notch-to-Suppressor of Hairless-to-Enhancer of split signaling pathway previously defined, and a second pathway that acts independently.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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Calcium-Binding Proteins
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Cell Differentiation / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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Drosophila / embryology*
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Drosophila Proteins*
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Embryo, Nonmammalian / metabolism
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Embryonic Induction
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Female
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
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Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
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Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
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Insect Proteins / genetics
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Insect Proteins / metabolism
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Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Jagged-1 Protein
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Ligases*
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Membrane Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
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Mesoderm / metabolism
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Muscle Proteins*
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Muscles / cytology*
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Muscles / embryology*
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Mutation
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
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Oogenesis / genetics
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Ovary / physiology
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Receptors, Notch
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Repressor Proteins / genetics
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Repressor Proteins / metabolism
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Serrate-Jagged Proteins
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Transcription Factors*
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Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases*
Substances
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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Calcium-Binding Proteins
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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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Homeodomain Proteins
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Insect Proteins
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Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Jagged-1 Protein
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Membrane Proteins
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Muscle Proteins
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N protein, Drosophila
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Receptors, Notch
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Repressor Proteins
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Ser protein, Drosophila
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Serrate-Jagged Proteins
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Su(H) protein, Drosophila
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Transcription Factors
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bib protein, Drosophila
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delta protein
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slou protein, Drosophila
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nau protein, Drosophila
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Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
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neur protein, Drosophila
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Ligases