Drosophila AP-1: lessons from an invertebrate

In recent years, studies in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster have contributed significant insights into the molecular and developmental biol ogy of the AP-1 transcription factors Jun and Fos, Powerful genetic and bio chemical approaches uncovered a baffling complexity and variability of the signaling connections to and from AP-1, The range of biological processes t hat Jun and Fos regulate in this organism is equally multifaceted, Regulato ry interactions between AP-1 and JNK, ERK, TGF beta, Notch or other signali ng systems have been implicated in the control of a multitude of embryonic and adult events, including tissue closure processes, patterning of eye, gu t and wing, as well as apoptosis, Here we review the information that has b een gathered on Drosophila AP-1 in signal transduction and on the developme ntal and cellular functions controlled by AP-1-mediated signals in the fly. Lessons learned from the studies on AP-1 in Drosophila may contribute to o ur general understanding, beyond species boundaries, of this fundamental cl ass of transcriptional regulators.