Sox Neuro, a new Drosophila Sox gene expressed in the developing central nervous system

We describe the identification and detailed expression pattern of a second Drosophila Sox gene, SoxNeuro (SoxN), highly related to mammalian group B S ox1, 2, 3 genes. SoxN is expressed in a highly dynamic pattern during embyo genesis, being associated with the development of the central nervous syste m (CNS), from the early steps onwards. We present strong evidence that the early SoxN neuroectoderm expression is controlled by the zygotic dorso-vent ral patterning genes (dpp, sog, brk, twi). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Irelan d Ltd. All rights reserved.