The gene bendless is referred to in FlyBase by the symbol Dmel\ben (CG18319, FBgn0000173). It is a protein_coding_gene from Drosophila melanogaster. Based on sequence similarity, it is predicted to have molecular function: ubiquitin-protein ligase activity. There is experimental evidence that it is involved in the biological process: jump response; response to anesthetic; flight behavior; axonogenesis; axon target recognition; photoreceptor cell morphogenesis; grooming behavior. 25 alleles are reported. The phenotypes of these alleles are annotated with: organ system subdivision; external compound sense organ; peripheral nervous system; adult segment; nervous system; adult mesothoracic segment; multi-cell-component structure; indirect flight muscle; synaptic neuropil subdomain; rhabdomere R7. It has 5 annotated transcripts and 5 annotated polypeptides. Protein features are: Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, E2; Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, active site; Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme/RWD-like. Summary of modENCODE Temporal Expression Profile: Temporal profile ranges from a peak of very high expression to a trough of moderately high expression. Peak expression observed within 00-06 hour embryonic stages, during early pupal stages. Summary of FlyAtlas Anatomical Expression Data: High or moderate levels of expression observed in all larval and adult organs/tissues. Expression at high levels in the following post-embryonic organs or tissues: adult head, adult eye, larval/adult central nervous system, adult crop, larval/adult midgut, larval/adult hindgut, larval/adult Malpighian tubules, adult heart, larval/adult fat body, larval salivary gland, larval trachea, adult spermathecae, adult male accessory gland, larval carcass. Expression at moderate levels in the following post-embryonic organs or tissues: adult salivary gland, adult ovary, adult testis, adult carcass. Comments on Affy2 ProbeSet: ProbeSet 1641279_at completely aligns to an exonic region of only a subset of 1 of the 2 FlyBase-annotated transcript isoforms of ben. Gene sequence location is X:13890378..13893838.
User Contributed Data
Phenotypic Description from the Red Book (Lindsley
& Zimm 1992)
Gene/Allele symbols may differ
from current usage
ben: bendless (J. Hall; R. Wyman)
Adults have an aberrant startle response; they do
not jump when presented with a lights-off stimulus. The cervical giant fiber, a brain neuron, has abnormal morphology.
The normal giant fiber terminates in the thorax at a synapse
onto the motoneuron innervating the tergo-trochanteral (TT)
muscle (= jump muscle). In ben, this synapse is abnormal or
absent. The normal lateral bend of the giant fiber toward the
TT motoneuron in the mesothoracic neuromere is absent; the
axon usually terminates at the midline with fine branches
extending from its tip. Latency of response of the TT muscle
to stimulation of the giant fiber is abnormally long, and muscles cannot follow stimulation at rates above 5 Hz. Rhabdomeres of the photoreceptor cells in the ommatidia heart
shaped in cross section with indentation centrally oriented
rather than round as is normal. Furthermore, the axons from
photoreceptor cells R7 and R8 fail to make the right-angle
turn into the optic medulla after traversing the lamina
(Benzer). ben flies choose visible over ultraviolet wave
lengths whereas wild-type flies make the opposite choice
(Benzer).
Recent Updates
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FB2013_03
FB2013_02
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Summary of FlyAtlas Anatomical Expression Data: High or moderate levels of expression observed in all larval and adult organs/tissues. Expression at high levels in the following post-embryonic organs or tissues: adult head, adult eye, larval/adult central nervous system, adult crop, larval/adult midgut, larval/adult hindgut, larval/adult Malpighian tubules, adult heart, larval/adult fat body, larval salivary gland, larval trachea, adult spermathecae, adult male accessory gland, larval carcass. Expression at moderate levels in the following post-embryonic organs or tissues: adult salivary gland, adult ovary, adult testis, adult carcass.
[download data (TSV)]
Guide to FlyAtlas expression level colors
No expression (0 - 9.999)
Low expression (10 - 99.999)
Moderate expression (100 - 499.999)
High level expression (500 - 999.999)
Very high expression (>999.999)
Linear, scaled to maximum expression level
Tissue
Expression Level
Larval Central Nervous System
1376.675
Larval Midgut
1217
Larval Hindgut
1409.8
Larval Malpighian Tubules
1612.4
Larval Fat Body
1033.7
Larval Salivary Gland
907.9
Larval Trachea
678.9
Larval Carcass
1082.475
Adult Head
1015
Adult Eye
1068.575
Adult Brain
996.3
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
1092.8
Adult Crop
1040.4
Adult Midgut
515.1
Adult Hindgut
801.3
Adult Malpighian Tubules
676.8
Adult Fat Body
984.5
Adult Salivary Gland
478.6
Adult Heart
518.65
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
784.5
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
842
Adult Ovary
221.1
Adult Testis
123
Adult Male Accessory Gland
629.5
Adult Carcass
481
Expression Level Scale
None
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Linear, scaled to Moderate expression
Tissue
Expression Level
Larval Central Nervous System
(1376.675)
Larval Midgut
(1217)
Larval Hindgut
(1409.8)
Larval Malpighian Tubules
(1612.4)
Larval Fat Body
(1033.7)
Larval Salivary Gland
(907.9)
Larval Trachea
(678.9)
Larval Carcass
(1082.475)
Adult Head
(1015)
Adult Eye
(1068.575)
Adult Brain
(996.3)
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
(1092.8)
Adult Crop
(1040.4)
Adult Midgut
515.1
Adult Hindgut
(801.3)
Adult Malpighian Tubules
(676.8)
Adult Fat Body
(984.5)
Adult Salivary Gland
478.6
Adult Heart
518.65
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
(784.5)
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
(842)
Adult Ovary
221.1
Adult Testis
123
Adult Male Accessory Gland
(629.5)
Adult Carcass
481
Expression Level Scale
None
Low
Moderate
High
Linear, scaled to High level expression
Tissue
Expression Level
Larval Central Nervous System
(1376.675)
Larval Midgut
(1217)
Larval Hindgut
(1409.8)
Larval Malpighian Tubules
(1612.4)
Larval Fat Body
1033.7
Larval Salivary Gland
907.9
Larval Trachea
678.9
Larval Carcass
(1082.475)
Adult Head
1015
Adult Eye
1068.575
Adult Brain
996.3
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
(1092.8)
Adult Crop
1040.4
Adult Midgut
515.1
Adult Hindgut
801.3
Adult Malpighian Tubules
676.8
Adult Fat Body
984.5
Adult Salivary Gland
478.6
Adult Heart
518.65
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
784.5
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
842
Adult Ovary
221.1
Adult Testis
123
Adult Male Accessory Gland
629.5
Adult Carcass
481
Expression Level Scale
None
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Linear, scaled to Very high expression
Tissue
Expression Level
Larval Central Nervous System
1376.675
Larval Midgut
1217
Larval Hindgut
1409.8
Larval Malpighian Tubules
1612.4
Larval Fat Body
1033.7
Larval Salivary Gland
907.9
Larval Trachea
678.9
Larval Carcass
1082.475
Adult Head
1015
Adult Eye
1068.575
Adult Brain
996.3
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
1092.8
Adult Crop
1040.4
Adult Midgut
515.1
Adult Hindgut
801.3
Adult Malpighian Tubules
676.8
Adult Fat Body
984.5
Adult Salivary Gland
478.6
Adult Heart
518.65
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
784.5
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
842
Adult Ovary
221.1
Adult Testis
123
Adult Male Accessory Gland
629.5
Adult Carcass
481
Expression Level Scale
Very high
log, scaled to maximum expression level
Tissue
Expression Level
Larval Central Nervous System
1376.675
Larval Midgut
1217
Larval Hindgut
1409.8
Larval Malpighian Tubules
1612.4
Larval Fat Body
1033.7
Larval Salivary Gland
907.9
Larval Trachea
678.9
Larval Carcass
1082.475
Adult Head
1015
Adult Eye
1068.575
Adult Brain
996.3
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
1092.8
Adult Crop
1040.4
Adult Midgut
515.1
Adult Hindgut
801.3
Adult Malpighian Tubules
676.8
Adult Fat Body
984.5
Adult Salivary Gland
478.6
Adult Heart
518.65
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
784.5
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
842
Adult Ovary
221.1
Adult Testis
123
Adult Male Accessory Gland
629.5
Adult Carcass
481
Expression Level Scale
None
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
log, scaled to Moderate expression
Tissue
Expression Level
Larval Central Nervous System
(1376.675)
Larval Midgut
(1217)
Larval Hindgut
(1409.8)
Larval Malpighian Tubules
(1612.4)
Larval Fat Body
(1033.7)
Larval Salivary Gland
(907.9)
Larval Trachea
678.9
Larval Carcass
(1082.475)
Adult Head
(1015)
Adult Eye
(1068.575)
Adult Brain
(996.3)
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
(1092.8)
Adult Crop
(1040.4)
Adult Midgut
515.1
Adult Hindgut
801.3
Adult Malpighian Tubules
676.8
Adult Fat Body
(984.5)
Adult Salivary Gland
478.6
Adult Heart
518.65
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
784.5
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
(842)
Adult Ovary
221.1
Adult Testis
123
Adult Male Accessory Gland
629.5
Adult Carcass
481
Expression Level Scale
None
Low
Moderate
High
log, scaled to High level expression
Tissue
Expression Level
Larval Central Nervous System
1376.675
Larval Midgut
1217
Larval Hindgut
1409.8
Larval Malpighian Tubules
1612.4
Larval Fat Body
1033.7
Larval Salivary Gland
907.9
Larval Trachea
678.9
Larval Carcass
1082.475
Adult Head
1015
Adult Eye
1068.575
Adult Brain
996.3
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
1092.8
Adult Crop
1040.4
Adult Midgut
515.1
Adult Hindgut
801.3
Adult Malpighian Tubules
676.8
Adult Fat Body
984.5
Adult Salivary Gland
478.6
Adult Heart
518.65
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
784.5
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
842
Adult Ovary
221.1
Adult Testis
123
Adult Male Accessory Gland
629.5
Adult Carcass
481
Expression Level Scale
None
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
log, scaled to Very high expression
Tissue
Expression Level
Larval Central Nervous System
1376.675
Larval Midgut
1217
Larval Hindgut
1409.8
Larval Malpighian Tubules
1612.4
Larval Fat Body
1033.7
Larval Salivary Gland
907.9
Larval Trachea
678.9
Larval Carcass
1082.475
Adult Head
1015
Adult Eye
1068.575
Adult Brain
996.3
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
1092.8
Adult Crop
1040.4
Adult Midgut
515.1
Adult Hindgut
801.3
Adult Malpighian Tubules
676.8
Adult Fat Body
984.5
Adult Salivary Gland
478.6
Adult Heart
518.65
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
784.5
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
842
Adult Ovary
221.1
Adult Testis
123
Adult Male Accessory Gland
629.5
Adult Carcass
481
Expression Level Scale
None
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Heatmap
Tissue
Expression Level
Larval Central Nervous System
Larval Midgut
Larval Hindgut
Larval Malpighian Tubules
Larval Fat Body
Larval Salivary Gland
Larval Trachea
Larval Carcass
Adult Head
Adult Eye
Adult Brain
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
Adult Crop
Adult Midgut
Adult Hindgut
Adult Malpighian Tubules
Adult Fat Body
Adult Salivary Gland
Adult Heart
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
Adult Ovary
Adult Testis
Adult Male Accessory Gland
Adult Carcass
FlyAtlas Organ/Tissue Expression, larval vs. adult
Summary of modENCODE Temporal Expression Profile: Temporal profile ranges from a peak of very high expression to a trough of moderately high expression. Peak expression observed within 00-06 hour embryonic stages, during early pupal stages.
[download data (TSV)]
Please Note FlyBase no
longer curates genomic clone accessions so this list
may not be complete
cDNA Clones ( 118 )
Please Note
This section lists
cDNAs and ESTs that fall within the genomic extent
of the gene model, which may include cDNAs and ESTs
of genes within introns, or of overlapping genes.
Please see GBrowse for alignment of the cDNAs and ESTs
to the gene model.
ben mRNA is terminated at the poly(A) signal provided by the Ste intergenic spacer 3' untranslated region which is present upstream of the neighbouring Ste12DOR coding region. Overall orientation not stated: ben+ Ste12DOR+
Mutations in ben cause a disruption in the recognition event leading to synapse formation between the giant fibre (GF) and the tergotrochanteral jump muscle motorneuron (TTMmn) giving rise to the GF phenotype. Also mutants exhibit morphological abnormalities within the visual system. Results suggest a role for ben for ubiquitin-mediated protein modification in nervous system development, including the regulation of synaptic connectivity.
Adults have an aberrant startle response; they do not jump when presented with a lights-off stimulus. The cervical giant fiber, a brain neuron, has abnormal morphology. The normal giant fiber terminates in the thorax at a synapse onto the motoneuron innervating the tergo-trochanteral (TT) muscle (= jump muscle). In ben, this synapse is abnormal or absent. The normal lateral bend of the giant fiber toward the TT motoneuron in the mesothoracic neuromere is absent; the axon usually terminates at the midline with fine branches extending from its tip. Latency of response of the TT muscle to stimulation of the giant fiber is abnormally long, and muscles cannot follow stimulation at rates above 5 Hz. Rhabdomeres of the photoreceptor cells in the ommatidia heart shaped in cross-section with indentation centrally oriented rather than round as is normal. Furthermore, the axons from photoreceptor cells R7 and R8 fail to make the right-angle turn into the optic medulla after traversing the lamina. ben flies choose visible over ultraviolet wave lengths whereas wild-type flies make the opposite choice.
Behavioural data suggests antennal and maxillary basiconic sensilla may be important receptors for short chain alcohols and organic acids but less crucial for acetates, aldehydes and ketones.
Mutations have a defect in the pathway between the giant fibre and jump muscle, the giant fiber fails to make a bend which would normally bring it into proximity with the jump muscle motoneuron.