The gene castor is referred to in FlyBase by the symbol Dmel\cas (CG2102, FBgn0004878). It is a protein_coding_gene from Drosophila melanogaster. There is experimental evidence that it has the molecular function: DNA binding. There is experimental evidence that it is involved in the biological process: central nervous system development; mushroom body development; post-embryonic development; neuroblast development; negative regulation of transcription, DNA-dependent. 32 alleles are reported. The phenotypes of these alleles are annotated with: organ system subdivision; organ system; multicellular structure; embryonic/larval neuron; anatomical structure; sense organ; adult segment; adult; eo support cell; non-connected developing system; external compound sense organ. It has 2 annotated transcripts and 2 annotated polypeptides. Protein features are: AT hook, DNA-binding motif; Zinc finger, C2H2; Zinc finger, C2H2-like. Summary of modENCODE Temporal Expression Profile: Temporal profile ranges from a peak of moderately high expression to a trough of no expression detected. Peak expression observed within 06-18 hour embryonic stages. Summary of FlyAtlas Anatomical Expression Data: Expression at moderate levels in the following post-embryonic organs or tissues: larval central nervous system. Comments on Affy2 ProbeSet: ProbeSet 1641344_a_at completely aligns to an exonic region of the only FlyBase-annotated transcript isoform of cas. Gene sequence location is 3R:1538697..1542527.
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The highest levels of cas mRNA expression coincide with embryonic CNS development but low levels can be detected in third instar larvae and adults. Expression occurs in a restricted set of neuroblasts and glia in the cephalic regions and the ventral nerve cord. Expression is seen in both the lateral CNS and the midline and the midline expression shows an anterior to posterior gradient.
cas transcripts are first detected at stage 9 in a subset of midline cells. Slightly later, one neuroblast in every hemisegment expresses cas. By late stage 11, cas transcripts are expressed in 17 identified neuroblasts in every hemisegment of the CNS. Transcript levels decrease by stage 14 and are undetectable by stage 16. Transcripts are detected only in midline cells, ganglion mother cells and neuroblasts and not in the neurogenic ectoderm or neurons.
cas is seen to be expressed in two waves in the thoracic neuroblast NB3-3, not being detected in late embryonic stage 13 to late embryonic stage 14. However, in the abdominal neuroblast NB3-3 the first wave ends earlier (end of stage 12), and the second wave both begins and ends earlier (late stage 13 to early stage 14).
In larvae, cas is expressed in disseminated cells on the ventral side of the VNC. On the dorsal side of the third instar larval brain, cas is expressed in five linearly organised cell clusters on both sides of the interhemispheric junction. Expression of cas gradually disappears from the CNS during pupation, and no clear signal is seen in adult brain.
Summary of FlyAtlas Anatomical Expression Data: Expression at moderate levels in the following post-embryonic organs or tissues: larval central nervous system.
[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
402.45
Larval Midgut
0.9
Larval Hindgut
0.5
Larval Malpighian Tubules
2
Larval Fat Body
1.6
Larval Salivary Gland
1
Larval Trachea
1.225
Larval Carcass
0.85
Adult Head
2.3
Adult Eye
1.325
Adult Brain
1.1
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
3.9
Adult Crop
2.2
Adult Midgut
1.5
Adult Hindgut
1.8
Adult Malpighian Tubules
1.6
Adult Fat Body
3.9
Adult Salivary Gland
4.4
Adult Heart
1.275
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
3.8
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
3.2
Adult Ovary
3.3
Adult Testis
1.6
Adult Male Accessory Gland
2.8
Adult Carcass
3.4
Expression Level Scale
None
Low
Moderate
Linear, scaled to Moderate expression
Tissue
Expression Level
Larval Central Nervous System
402.45
Larval Midgut
0.9
Larval Hindgut
0.5
Larval Malpighian Tubules
2
Larval Fat Body
1.6
Larval Salivary Gland
1
Larval Trachea
1.225
Larval Carcass
0.85
Adult Head
2.3
Adult Eye
1.325
Adult Brain
1.1
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
3.9
Adult Crop
2.2
Adult Midgut
1.5
Adult Hindgut
1.8
Adult Malpighian Tubules
1.6
Adult Fat Body
3.9
Adult Salivary Gland
4.4
Adult Heart
1.275
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
3.8
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
3.2
Adult Ovary
3.3
Adult Testis
1.6
Adult Male Accessory Gland
2.8
Adult Carcass
3.4
Expression Level Scale
None
Low
Moderate
High
Linear, scaled to High level expression
Tissue
Expression Level
Larval Central Nervous System
402.45
Larval Midgut
0.9
Larval Hindgut
0.5
Larval Malpighian Tubules
2
Larval Fat Body
1.6
Larval Salivary Gland
1
Larval Trachea
1.225
Larval Carcass
0.85
Adult Head
2.3
Adult Eye
1.325
Adult Brain
1.1
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
3.9
Adult Crop
2.2
Adult Midgut
1.5
Adult Hindgut
1.8
Adult Malpighian Tubules
1.6
Adult Fat Body
3.9
Adult Salivary Gland
4.4
Adult Heart
1.275
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
3.8
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
3.2
Adult Ovary
3.3
Adult Testis
1.6
Adult Male Accessory Gland
2.8
Adult Carcass
3.4
Expression Level Scale
None
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Linear, scaled to Very high expression
Tissue
Expression Level
Larval Central Nervous System
402.45
Larval Midgut
0.9
Larval Hindgut
0.5
Larval Malpighian Tubules
2
Larval Fat Body
1.6
Larval Salivary Gland
1
Larval Trachea
1.225
Larval Carcass
0.85
Adult Head
2.3
Adult Eye
1.325
Adult Brain
1.1
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
3.9
Adult Crop
2.2
Adult Midgut
1.5
Adult Hindgut
1.8
Adult Malpighian Tubules
1.6
Adult Fat Body
3.9
Adult Salivary Gland
4.4
Adult Heart
1.275
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
3.8
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
3.2
Adult Ovary
3.3
Adult Testis
1.6
Adult Male Accessory Gland
2.8
Adult Carcass
3.4
Expression Level Scale
Very high
log, scaled to maximum expression level
Tissue
Expression Level
Larval Central Nervous System
402.45
Larval Midgut
0.9
Larval Hindgut
0.5
Larval Malpighian Tubules
2
Larval Fat Body
1.6
Larval Salivary Gland
1
Larval Trachea
1.225
Larval Carcass
0.85
Adult Head
2.3
Adult Eye
1.325
Adult Brain
1.1
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
3.9
Adult Crop
2.2
Adult Midgut
1.5
Adult Hindgut
1.8
Adult Malpighian Tubules
1.6
Adult Fat Body
3.9
Adult Salivary Gland
4.4
Adult Heart
1.275
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
3.8
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
3.2
Adult Ovary
3.3
Adult Testis
1.6
Adult Male Accessory Gland
2.8
Adult Carcass
3.4
Expression Level Scale
None
Low
Moderate
High
log, scaled to Moderate expression
Tissue
Expression Level
Larval Central Nervous System
402.45
Larval Midgut
0.9
Larval Hindgut
0.5
Larval Malpighian Tubules
2
Larval Fat Body
1.6
Larval Salivary Gland
1
Larval Trachea
1.225
Larval Carcass
0.85
Adult Head
2.3
Adult Eye
1.325
Adult Brain
1.1
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
3.9
Adult Crop
2.2
Adult Midgut
1.5
Adult Hindgut
1.8
Adult Malpighian Tubules
1.6
Adult Fat Body
3.9
Adult Salivary Gland
4.4
Adult Heart
1.275
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
3.8
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
3.2
Adult Ovary
3.3
Adult Testis
1.6
Adult Male Accessory Gland
2.8
Adult Carcass
3.4
Expression Level Scale
None
Low
Moderate
High
log, scaled to High level expression
Tissue
Expression Level
Larval Central Nervous System
402.45
Larval Midgut
0.9
Larval Hindgut
0.5
Larval Malpighian Tubules
2
Larval Fat Body
1.6
Larval Salivary Gland
1
Larval Trachea
1.225
Larval Carcass
0.85
Adult Head
2.3
Adult Eye
1.325
Adult Brain
1.1
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
3.9
Adult Crop
2.2
Adult Midgut
1.5
Adult Hindgut
1.8
Adult Malpighian Tubules
1.6
Adult Fat Body
3.9
Adult Salivary Gland
4.4
Adult Heart
1.275
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
3.8
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
3.2
Adult Ovary
3.3
Adult Testis
1.6
Adult Male Accessory Gland
2.8
Adult Carcass
3.4
Expression Level Scale
None
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
log, scaled to Very high expression
Tissue
Expression Level
Larval Central Nervous System
402.45
Larval Midgut
0.9
Larval Hindgut
0.5
Larval Malpighian Tubules
2
Larval Fat Body
1.6
Larval Salivary Gland
1
Larval Trachea
1.225
Larval Carcass
0.85
Adult Head
2.3
Adult Eye
1.325
Adult Brain
1.1
Adult Thoracic-Abdominal Ganglion
3.9
Adult Crop
2.2
Adult Midgut
1.5
Adult Hindgut
1.8
Adult Malpighian Tubules
1.6
Adult Fat Body
3.9
Adult Salivary Gland
4.4
Adult Heart
1.275
Adult VirginFemale Spermatheca
3.8
Adult InseminatedFemale Spermatheca
3.2
Adult Ovary
3.3
Adult Testis
1.6
Adult Male Accessory Gland
2.8
Adult Carcass
3.4
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 moderately high expression to a trough of no expression detected. Peak expression observed within 06-18 hour embryonic stages.
[download data (TSV)]
Please Note FlyBase no
longer curates genomic clone accessions so this list
may not be complete
cDNA Clones ( 23 )
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.
nub/pdm2 and cas regulate late-born motor neuron identity within the NB7-1 lineage; nub/pdm2 specifies fourth-born U4 motor neuron identity, while nub/pdm2/cas together specify fifth-born U5 motor neuron identity.
The embryonic CNS contains sequentially generated neuroblast sublineages that can be distinguished by their expression of either hb, nub or cas. hb and cas may directly silence nub expression in early and late developing sublineages, given that nub cis-regulatory DNA contains approximately 32 hb/cas-binding sites and its enhancer(s) are ectopically activated in cas- neuroblasts. Targeted misexpression of cas in all neuronal lineages reduces nub expression without altering hb expression. By ensuring correct POU gene expression boundaries hb and cas maintain temporal subdivisions in the cell-identity circuitry controlling CNS development.
cas, eve, unpg and ac are expressed in specific neuroblast sublineages. Expression studies using pbl and stg mutants suggest that neuroblasts have an intrinsic gene regulatory hierarchy controlling unpg and ac expression but that cell cycle- or cytokinesis-dependent mechanisms are required for cas and eve CNS expression.
cas was identified by an enhancer trap insertion expressed in a subset of neuroblasts at reproducible points in their cell lineage, and is proposed to control cell fate within neuroblast cell lineages. cas is required for the correct CNS expression of engrailed, and loss of cas function results in precise alterations in CNS gene expression, defects in axonogenesis and embryonic lethality.
Use of a Drosophila genome-wide conserved sequence database to identify functionally related cis-regulatory enhancers. [FBrf0216969]
Fontana and Crews, 2012, Dev. Biol. 372(1): 131--142
Transcriptome analysis of Drosophila CNS midline cells reveals diverse peptidergic properties and a role for castor in neuronal differentiation. [FBrf0219766]
Kao et al., 2012, Neuron 73(4): 677--684
Hierarchical deployment of factors regulating temporal fate in a diverse neuronal lineage of the Drosophila central brain. [FBrf0217643]
Kim et al., 2012, BMC Syst. Biol. 6: 31
Spatiotemporal network motif reveals the biological traits of developmental gene regulatory networks in Drosophila melanogaster. [FBrf0219366]
Kuzin et al., 2012, Gene Expr. Patterns 12(7-8): 261--272
The cis-regulatory dynamics of the Drosophila CNS determinant castor are controlled by multiple sub-pattern enhancers. [FBrf0219381]
Touma et al., 2012, Development 139(4): 657--666
Drosophila Polycomb complexes restrict neuroblast competence to generate motoneurons. [FBrf0217274]
Ulvklo et al., 2012, Development 139(4): 678--689
Control of neuronal cell fate and number by integration of distinct daughter cell proliferation modes with temporal progression. [FBrf0217281]
Benito-Sipos et al., 2011, Development 138(24): 5311--5320
Seven up acts as a temporal factor during two different stages of neuroblast 5-6 development. [FBrf0216799]
Gabilondo et al., 2011, Mech. Dev. 128(3-4): 208--221
A targeted genetic screen identifies crucial players in the specification of the Drosophila abdominal Capaergic neurons. [FBrf0213290]
Hwang and Rulifson, 2011, Development 138(14): 2883--2893
Serial specification of diverse neuroblast identities from a neurogenic placode by Notch and Egfr signaling. [FBrf0214015]
Kohwi et al., 2011, Development 138(9): 1727--1735
The pipsqueak-domain proteins Distal antenna and Distal antenna-related restrict Hunchback neuroblast expression and early-born neuronal identity. [FBrf0213466]
Lorbeck et al., 2011, PLoS ONE 6(4): e18412
Microarray analysis uncovers a role for tip60 in nervous system function and general metabolism. [FBrf0213446]
Stagg et al., 2011, Development 138(11): 2171--2183
Dual role for Drosophila lethal of scute in CNS midline precursor formation and dopaminergic neuron and motoneuron cell fate. [FBrf0213671]