Ec. Lai et Gm. Rubin, neuralized functions cell-autonomously to regulate a subset of notch-dependent processes during adult Drosophila development, DEVELOP BIO, 231(1), 2001, pp. 217-233
neuralized (neu) represents one of the strong neurogenic mutants in Drosoph
ila. Mutants of this class display, among other phenotypes, a strong overco
mmitment to neural fates at the expense of epidermal fates. We analyzed the
role of neu during adult development by using mutant clonal analysis, mise
xpression of wild-type and truncated forms of Neu, and examination of genet
ic interactions with N-pathway mutations. We find that neu is required cell
-autonomously for lateral inhibition during peripheral neurogenesis and for
multiple asymmetric cell divisions in the sensory lineage. In contrast, ne
u is apparently dispensable for other N-mediated processes, including later
al inhibition during wing vein development and wing margin induction. Misex
pression of wild-type Neu causes defects in both peripheral neurogenesis an
d wing vein development, while a truncated form lacking the RING finger is
further capable of inhibiting formation of the wing margin. In addition, th
e phenotypes produced by misexpression of wild-type and truncated Neu prote
ins are sensitive to the dosage of several N-pathway components. Finally, u
sing epitope-tagged Neu proteins, we localize Neu to the plasma membrane an
d reveal a novel morphology to the sensory organ precursor cells of wing im
aginal discs. Collectively, these data indicate a key role for neu in the r
eception of the lateral inhibitory signal during peripheral neurogenesis. (
C) 2001 Academic Press.