Nerfin-1 and -2, novel Drosophila Zn-finger transcription factor genes expressed in the developing nervous system

To gain insight into the regulatory networks controlling Drosophila neural- identity decisions, we have identified new neuronal precursor genes by perf orming an in situ hybridization screen of differentially selected embryonic head cDNAs. Here, we describe the molecular characteristics and expression profile of nerfin-1, a novel pan-neural precursor gene. This paper also do cuments the embryonic expression of another structurally related gene, nerf in-2. During early CNS development, nerfin-1 gene expression is activated i n neuroblasts (NBs) prior to lineage formation. However, after early sublin eage development, nerfin-1 expression shifts from NBs to ganglion mother ce lls (GMCs) but is not expressed in neurons or glia. Differing from nerfin-1 , nerfin-2 is expressed only in a subset of brain neurons. Possessing a con served putative DNA-binding domain, the predicted Nerfin-1 and -2 proteins belong to a subfamily of Zn-finger transcription factors with cognates iden tified in nematode, mouse and man. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. A ll rights reserved.