TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL EXPRESSION OF AN ADULT CUTICLE PROTEIN GENE FROMDROSOPHILA SUGGESTS THAT ITS PROTEIN PRODUCT MAY IMPART SOME SPECIALIZED CUTICLE FUNCTION

An adult cuticle protein gene (Dacp-1) from Drosophila melanogaster ha s been isolated and characterized. This gene was classified as an adul t cuticle protein gene because it maintains the conserved structure of other cuticle protein genes, the sequence of its conceptual translati on product contains a repeated motif that is found almost exclusively in a subset of adult cuticle proteins from Locust migratoria, and the gene is expressed in the epidermis underlying the head and thoracic cu ticle. The bulk of Dacp-1 expression starts similar to 72 hr after pup ariation, peaks approximately 12 hr after eclosion, and decreases ther eafter to undetectable levels by 3 days after eclosion. The stage spec ificity and spatial restriction of Dacp-1 expression as well as the ph ysical properties of its conceptual translation product suggest that i t may be involved in some specialized function such as thickening of t he adult cuticle. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.