Biomaterial Database

An analysis of dopa decarboxylase expression during embryogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. 1985

R D Gietz, and R B Hodgetts

Dopa decarboxylase (DDC) activity appears near the end of embryogenesis in Drosophila. High titers of 20-OH-ecdysone on the other hand are found at midembryogenesis. Several explanations for this lag were investigated, since this hormone has been shown to induce a rapid increase in DDC activity at pupariation (G. P. Kraminsky, W. C. Clark, M. A. Estelle, R. D. Gietz, B. A. Sage, J. D. O'Connor, and R. B. Hodgetts, 1980, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77, 4175-4179). Using immunological and genetical criteria, it was shown that the same structural gene encodes DDC in embryos, mature larvae, and young adults. This rules out the existence of a distinct embryonic DDC gene unresponsive to 20-OH-ecdysone. Second, no evidence was found to support the hypothesis that a delay in the translation of DDC transcripts, produced in response to the elevated titer of 20-OH-ecdysone at midembryogenesis, caused the lag. Northern analysis of the RNA molecules homologous to cloned genomic sequences revealed that DDC transcripts were present at two different times during embryogenesis. A transcript was found in both ovaries and 0- to 2-hr embryos. However, this species disappeared by 4 hr and DDC transcript levels remained low until late in embryogenesis, when a significant increase occurred. This increase was presumably responsible for the appearance of the enzyme at this time. The northern blotting revealed nine DDC transcript species were present during embryogenesis and hybridization to intron-specific probes indicated that five of these contained at least part of one (or both) of the two introns. Three putative mature mRNA species were identified by their small size, relative abundance, apparent lack of intron sequence, and their presence on polysomes. The two mature species found during the late stages were postulated to differ in the length of their poly(A)+ tails. The third mature species was found only in ovaries and very young embryos and may well be of maternal origin. Data are examined in light of the possibility that this species is derived from a precursor initiated at a novel promotor.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007814	Larva	Wormlike or grublike stage, following the egg in the life cycle of insects, worms, and other metamorphosing animals.	Maggots,Tadpoles,Larvae,Maggot,Tadpole
D009154	Mutation	Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations.	Mutations
D011132	Polyribosomes	A multiribosomal structure representing a linear array of RIBOSOMES held together by messenger RNA; (RNA, MESSENGER); They represent the active complexes in cellular protein synthesis and are able to incorporate amino acids into polypeptides both in vivo and in vitro. (From Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed)	Polysomes,Polyribosome,Polysome
D004296	Dopa Decarboxylase	One of the AROMATIC-L-AMINO-ACID DECARBOXYLASES, this enzyme is responsible for the conversion of DOPA to DOPAMINE. It is of clinical importance in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.	Decarboxylase, Dopa
D004331	Drosophila melanogaster	A species of fruit fly frequently used in genetics because of the large size of its chromosomes.	D. melanogaster,Drosophila melanogasters,melanogaster, Drosophila
D004441	Ecdysterone	A steroid hormone that regulates the processes of MOLTING or ecdysis in insects. Ecdysterone is the 20-hydroxylated ECDYSONE.	20-Hydroxyecdysone,Beta-Ecdysone,Crustecdysone,20 Hydroxyecdysone,Beta Ecdysone
D005786	Gene Expression Regulation	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control (induction or repression) of gene action at the level of transcription or translation.	Gene Action Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression,Expression Regulation, Gene,Regulation, Gene Action,Regulation, Gene Expression
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001142	Aromatic-L-Amino-Acid Decarboxylases	An enzyme group with broad specificity. The enzymes decarboxylate a range of aromatic amino acids including dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA DECARBOXYLASE); TRYPTOPHAN; and HYDROXYTRYPTOPHAN.	Amino Acid Decarboxylases, Aromatic,Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylase,Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylases,5-HTPase,5-Hydroxytryptophan Decarboxylase,Aromatic-L-Amino-Acid Decarboxylase,Hydroxytryptophan Decarboxylase,Tryptophan Decarboxylase,5 HTPase,5 Hydroxytryptophan Decarboxylase,Aromatic L Amino Acid Decarboxylase,Aromatic L Amino Acid Decarboxylases,Decarboxylase, 5-Hydroxytryptophan,Decarboxylase, Aromatic-L-Amino-Acid,Decarboxylase, Hydroxytryptophan,Decarboxylase, Tryptophan,Decarboxylases, Aromatic-L-Amino-Acid
D001483	Base Sequence	The sequence of PURINES and PYRIMIDINES in nucleic acids and polynucleotides. It is also called nucleotide sequence.	DNA Sequence,Nucleotide Sequence,RNA Sequence,DNA Sequences,Base Sequences,Nucleotide Sequences,RNA Sequences,Sequence, Base,Sequence, DNA,Sequence, Nucleotide,Sequence, RNA,Sequences, Base,Sequences, DNA,Sequences, Nucleotide,Sequences, RNA