The tissue polarity gene nemo carries out multiple roles in patterning during Drosophila development

Drosophila nemo was first identified as a gene required for tissue polarity during ommatidial development. We have extended the analysis of nemo and f ound that it participates in multiple developmental processes. It is requir ed during wing development for wing shape and vein patterning. We observe g enetic interactions between nemo and mutations in the Notch. Wingless. Friz zled and Decapentaplegic pathways. Our data support the findings from other organisms that Nemo proteins act as negative regulators of Wingless signal ing. nemo mutations cause polarity defects in the adult wing and overexpres sion of nemo leads to abdominal polarity defects. The expression of nemo du ring embryogenesis is dynamic and dsRNA inhibition and ectopic expression s tudies indicate that nemo is essential during embryogenesis. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science Ireland Ltd, All rights reserved.