Sense organ identity in the Drosophila antenna is specified by the expression of the proneural gene atonal

We have shown that the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Atonal i s sufficient for specification of one of the three subsets of olfactory sen se organs on the Drosophila antenna. Misexpression of Atonal in all sensory precursors in the antennal disc results in their conversion to coeloconic sensilla. The mechanism by which specific sense organ fate is triggered rem ains unclear. We have shown that the homeodomain transcription factor Cut w hich acts in the chordotonal-external sense organ choice does not play a ro le in olfactory sense organ development. The expression of atonal in specif ic domains of the antennal disc is regulated by an interplay of the pattern ing genes, Hedgehog and Wingless, and Drosophila epidermal growth factor re ceptor pathway. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.