Map position and expression of the genes in the 38 region of Drosophila

With the completion of the Drosophila genome sequence, an important next st ep is to extract its biological information by systematic functional analys is of genes. We have produced a high-resolution genetic map of cytological region 38 of Drosophila using 41 deficiency stocks that provide a total of 54 breakpoints within the region. Of a total of 45 independent P-element li nes that mapped by in situ hybridization to the region, 14 targeted 7 compl ementation groups within the 38 region. Additional EMS, X-ray, and spontane ous mutations define a total of 17 complementation groups. Because these tw o pools partially overlap, the completed analysis revealed 21 distinct comp lementation groups defined by point mutations. Seven additional functions w ere defined by trans-heterozygous combinations of deficiencies, resulting i n a total of 28 distinct functions. We further produced a developmental exp ression profile for the 760 kb from 38B to 38E. Of 135 transcription units predicted by GENSCAN, 22 have at least partial homology to mobile genetic e lements such as transposons and retroviruses and 17 correspond to previousl y characterized genes. We analyzed the developmental expression pattern of the remaining genes using poly(A)(+) RNA from ovaries, early and late embry os, larvae, males, and females. We discuss the correlation between GENSCAN predictions and experimentally confirmed transcription units, the high numb er of male-specific transcripts, and the alignment of the genetic and physi cal maps in cytological region 38.