Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Inducible Ternary Control Of Transgene Expression and Cell Ablation In Drosophila

Smith, H.K., Roberts, Ian J. H., Allen, Marcus J., Connolly, J.B., Moffat, Kevin G., Okane, C.J. (1996) Inducible Ternary Control Of Transgene Expression and Cell Ablation In Drosophila. Development Genes and Evolution, 206 (1). pp. 14-24. ISSN 0949-944X. (doi:10.1007/s004270050026) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:5876)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004270050026

Abstract

In Drosophila, P-GAL4 enhancer trap lines can target expression of a cloned gene, under control of a UAS(GAL) element, to any cells of interest, However, additional expression of GAL4 in other cells can produce unwanted lethality or side-effects, particularly when It drives expression of a toxic gene product. To target the toxic gene product ricin A chain specifically to adult neurons, we have superimposed a second layer of regulation on the GAL4 control. We have constructed flies in which an effector gene is separated from UAS(GAL), by a polyadenylation site flanked by two FRT sites in the same orientation; A recombination event between the two FRT sites, catalysed by yeast FLP recombinase, brings the effector gene under control of UAS(GAL). Consequently, expression of tile effector gene is turned on in that cell and its descendants, if they also express GAL4. Recombinase is supplied by heat shock induction of a FLP transgene, allowing both tinting and frequency of recombination events to be regulated, Using a lacZ effector (reporter) to test the system, we have generated labelled clones in the embryonic mesoderm and shown that most recombination events occur soon after FLP recombinase is supplied. By substituting the ricin A chain gene for lacZ, we have performed mosaic cell ablations in one GAL4 line that marks the adult giant descending neurons, and in a second which marks mushroom body neurons. In a number of cases we observed loss of one or both the adult giant descending neurons, or of subsets of mushroom body neurons. In association with the mushroom body ablations, we also observed misrouting of surviving axons.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1007/s004270050026
Uncontrolled keywords: Ricin - ?GAL4 - FLP recombination - Mushroom bodies - Giant neuron
Subjects: Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Depositing User: Marcus J Allen
Date Deposited: 16 Aug 2009 19:01 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:44 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/5876 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Allen, Marcus J..

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.