CONTROL OF THE GENE OPTOMOTOR-BLIND IN DROSOPHILA WING DEVELOPMENT BYDECAPENTAPLEGIC AND WINGLESS

Diffusible factors of several protein families control appendage outgr owth and patterning in both insects and vertebrates. In Drosophila win g development, the gene decapentaplegic (dpp) is expressed along the a nteroposterior compartment boundary. Early wingless (wg) expression is involved in setting up the dorsoventral boundary. Interaction between dpp- and wg-expressing cells promotes appendage outgrowth. Here, it i s shown that optomotor-blind (omb) expression is required for distal w ing development and is controlled by both dpp and wg. Ectopic omb expr ession can lead to the growth of additional wings. Thus, omb is essent ial for wing development and is controlled by two signaling pathways.