Munster, a novel Paired-class homeobox gene specifically expressed in the Drosophila larval eye

Munster (Mu) is a homeobox-containing gene of the Paired-class which is spe cifically expressed in the developing Bolwig organs, the Drosophila larval eyes. This expression is first detected during early germ band retraction s tage (stage 12 from 7 h 20 at 25 degrees C) and persists until the end of e mbryogenesis. Mu homeodomain is most similar to that of Aristaless and D-Go osecoid. Strikingly, the Munster gene maps within 6 kb of D-goosecoid, in t he same genomic region as aristaless, suggesting that these genes are part of a homeobox gene cluster. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All righ ts reserved.