FB2025_02 , released April 17, 2025
Gene: Dmel\Burs
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General Information
Symbol
Dmel\Burs
Species
D. melanogaster
Name
Bursicon
Annotation Symbol
CG13419
Feature Type
FlyBase ID
FBgn0038901
Gene Model Status
Stock Availability
Gene Summary
Bursicon (Burs) encodes a cystine knot protein that dimerizes with the product of Pburs to form the bursicon neurohormone. Bursicon neurohormone is released after adult emergence and acts on the receptor encoded by rk for tanning and hardening of the cuticle and expansion of the wings. [Date last reviewed: 2019-03-07] (FlyBase Gene Snapshot)
Also Known As

bursicon α, bursα, bursicon α-subunit, burs α

Key Links
Genomic Location
Cytogenetic map
Sequence location
Recombination map
3-73
RefSeq locus
NT_033777 REGION:21769518..21770279
Sequence
Genomic Maps
Other Genome Views
The following external sites may use different assemblies or annotations than FlyBase.
Function
Gene Ontology (GO) Annotations (14 terms)
Molecular Function (5 terms)
Terms Based on Experimental Evidence (4 terms)
CV Term
Evidence
References
inferred from mutant phenotype
inferred from direct assay
inferred from physical interaction with FLYBASE:rk; FB:FBgn0003255
inferred from physical interaction with UniProtKB:Q9VJS7
Terms Based on Predictions or Assertions (2 terms)
CV Term
Evidence
References
inferred by curator from GO:0031395
inferred from biological aspect of ancestor with PANTHER:PTN008558995
inferred from biological aspect of ancestor with PANTHER:PTN002309998
Biological Process (5 terms)
Terms Based on Experimental Evidence (5 terms)
CV Term
Evidence
References
inferred from mutant phenotype
inferred from mutant phenotype
inferred from mutant phenotype
inferred from mutant phenotype
inferred from mutant phenotype
Terms Based on Predictions or Assertions (0 terms)
Cellular Component (4 terms)
Terms Based on Experimental Evidence (3 terms)
CV Term
Evidence
References
inferred from physical interaction with FLYBASE:Pburs; FB:FBgn0264810
inferred from direct assay
inferred from direct assay
located_in terminal bouton
inferred from direct assay
Terms Based on Predictions or Assertions (1 term)
CV Term
Evidence
References
is_active_in extracellular space
inferred from biological aspect of ancestor with PANTHER:PTN002309998
Gene Group (FlyBase)
Protein Family (UniProt)
-
Summaries
Gene Snapshot
Bursicon (Burs) encodes a cystine knot protein that dimerizes with the product of Pburs to form the bursicon neurohormone. Bursicon neurohormone is released after adult emergence and acts on the receptor encoded by rk for tanning and hardening of the cuticle and expansion of the wings. [Date last reviewed: 2019-03-07]
Gene Group (FlyBase)
NEUROPEPTIDES -
Neuropeptides are secreted into the extracellular space where they interact with cell surface receptors (usually G protein coupled receptors). They are extremely diverse, acting as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, hormones or growth factors. (Adapted from FBrf0211443 and PMID:27813667).
Protein Function (UniProtKB)
Final heterodimeric neurohormone released at the end of the molting cycle, involved in the sclerotization (tanning) of the insect cuticle, melanization and wing spreading. Heterodimer specifically activates the G protein-coupled receptor rk.
(UniProt, Q9VD83)
Summary (Interactive Fly)

neuropeptide hormone that controls cuticle sclerotization and wing expansion behavior - signals through the receptor Rickets to establish polarity, detachment, and migration of the border cells

Gene Model and Products
Number of Transcripts
1
Number of Unique Polypeptides
1

Please see the JBrowse view of Dmel\Burs for information on other features

To submit a correction to a gene model please use the Contact FlyBase form

Protein Domains (via Pfam)
Isoform displayed:
Pfam protein domains
InterPro name
classification
start
end
Protein Domains (via SMART)
Isoform displayed:
SMART protein domains
InterPro name
classification
start
end
Structure
Protein 3D structure   (Predicted by AlphaFold)   (AlphaFold entry Q9VD83)

If you don't see a structure in the viewer, refresh your browser.
Model Confidence:
  • Very high (pLDDT > 90)
  • Confident (90 > pLDDT > 70)
  • Low (70 > pLDDT > 50)
  • Very low (pLDDT < 50)

AlphaFold produces a per-residue confidence score (pLDDT) between 0 and 100. Some regions with low pLDDT may be unstructured in isolation.

Experimentally Determined Structures
Crossreferences
Comments on Gene Model

Gene model reviewed during 5.49

Transcript Data
Annotated Transcripts
Name
FlyBase ID
RefSeq ID
Length (nt)
Assoc. CDS (aa)
FBtr0084131
640
173
Additional Transcript Data and Comments
Reported size (kB)
Comments
External Data
Crossreferences
Polypeptide Data
Annotated Polypeptides
Name
FlyBase ID
Predicted MW (kDa)
Length (aa)
Theoretical pI
UniProt
RefSeq ID
GenBank
FBpp0083529
19.2
173
7.78
Polypeptides with Identical Sequences

There is only one protein coding transcript and one polypeptide associated with this gene

Additional Polypeptide Data and Comments
Reported size (kDa)
Comments

antibody probe was IgYs harvested from egg yolks of chicken immunized and boosted with synthetic Drosophila Burs peptide (sequences 91â 108)

External Data
Subunit Structure (UniProtKB)

Heterodimer of Burs and Pburs.

(UniProt, Q9VD83)
Crossreferences
InterPro - A database of protein families, domains and functional sites
Linkouts
Sequences Consistent with the Gene Model
Mapped Features

Click to get a list of regulatory features (enhancers, TFBS, etc.) and gene disruptions (point mutations, indels, etc.) within or overlapping Dmel\Burs using the Feature Mapper tool.

External Data
Crossreferences
Eukaryotic Promoter Database - A collection of databases of experimentally validated promoters for selected model organisms.
Linkouts
Expression Data
Testis-specificity index

The testis specificity index was calculated from modENCODE tissue expression data by Vedelek et al., 2018 to indicate the degree of testis enrichment compared to other tissues. Scores range from -2.52 (underrepresented) to 5.2 (very high testis bias).

-0.01

Transcript Expression
in situ
Stage
Tissue/Position (including subcellular localization)
Reference
RT-PCR
Stage
Tissue/Position (including subcellular localization)
Reference
Additional Descriptive Data

Burs transcripts are highly enriched in adult midgut and are undetectable in the adult CNS.

burs transcript is detected in several pairs of neurons in the pharate pupae ventral nerve cord. Strong expression is detected in one neuron in each T3 and A6 segments and 2 neurons in segments A1 to A5. All of these neurons also express CCAP transcript, and one neuron in each A1-A4 segments co-expresses pburs transcript. Expression of burs transcript is very similar to the expression of burs protein.

RT-PCR analysis indicates that burs transcript levels are low in the third larval stage, gradually increasing during pupal stages and reaching the highest levels in pharate adults. Levels are low in adults.

expressed in cells which also express CCAP.

Marker for
 
Subcellular Localization
CV Term
Polypeptide Expression
distribution deduced from reporter (Gal4 UAS)
Stage
Tissue/Position (including subcellular localization)
Reference
immunolocalization
Stage
Tissue/Position (including subcellular localization)
Reference
Additional Descriptive Data

Burs-protein is expressed in a subset of peptidergic neurons in the larval ventral nerve cord. Directly after eclosion expression is detected in around 14 neurons in the posterior part of the thoracico-abdominal ganglion. This number decreases to zero over the first day after eclosion.

burs protein is detected in several pairs of neurons in the pharate pupae ventral nerve cord. Strong expression is detected in one neuron in each T3, A5-A7 segments and 2 neurons in segments A1 to A4. All of these neurons also express CCAP transcript, and one neuron in each A1-A4 segments co-expresses pburs transcript. Expression of burs protein is very similar to the expression of burs transcript.

burs protein is expressed in a subset of CCAP neurons labeled with ScerGAL4Ccap.PP in the adult brain, including neurons in the subesophageal ganglion that extend their axons along the midline to the anterior brain.

In the larval ventral nerve cord, burs is prominently expressed in: two prominent pairs of neurons in the subesophageal ganglion; one pair of neurons in each of the first two thoracic neuromeres and two pairs in the third; two pairs of neurons in each of the first four abdominal neuromeres, and one to two pairs in the remaining abdominal neuromeres. In the adult, burs is expressed in a bilateral pair of neurons in the subesophageal ganglion, and in seven bilaterally paired neurons of the third thoracic neuromere and the abdominal ganglion.

Marker for
 
Subcellular Localization
CV Term
Evidence
References
inferred from physical interaction with FLYBASE:Pburs; FB:FBgn0264810
inferred from direct assay
inferred from direct assay
located_in terminal bouton
inferred from direct assay
Expression Deduced from Reporters
Reporter: P{Burs-GAL4.L}
Stage
Tissue/Position (including subcellular localization)
Reference
Reporter: P{Burs-GAL4.P}
Stage
Tissue/Position (including subcellular localization)
Reference
Reporter: P{Burs-GAL4.TH}
Stage
Tissue/Position (including subcellular localization)
Reference
High-Throughput Expression Data
Associated Tools

JBrowse - Visual display of RNA-Seq signals

View Dmel\Burs in JBrowse
RNA-Seq by Region - Search RNA-Seq expression levels by exon or genomic region
Reference
See Gelbart and Emmert, 2013 for analysis details and data files for all genes.
Developmental Proteome: Life Cycle
Developmental Proteome: Embryogenesis
External Data and Images
Linkouts
DRscDB - A single-cell RNA-seq resource for data mining and data comparison across species
EMBL-EBI Single Cell Expression Atlas - Single cell expression across species
FlyAtlas - Adult expression by tissue, using Affymetrix Dros2 array
FlyAtlas2 - A Drosophila melanogaster expression atlas with RNA-Seq, miRNA-Seq and sex-specific data
Flygut - An atlas of the Drosophila adult midgut
Images
Alleles, Insertions, Transgenic Constructs, and Aberrations
Classical and Insertion Alleles ( 7 )
For All Classical and Insertion Alleles Show
 
Other relevant insertions
Transgenic Constructs ( 9 )
For All Alleles Carried on Transgenic Constructs Show
Transgenic constructs containing/affecting coding region of Burs
Transgenic constructs containing regulatory region of Burs
Aberrations (Deficiencies and Duplications) ( 6 )
Variants
Variant Molecular Consequences
Alleles Representing Disease-Implicated Variants
Phenotypes
For more details about a specific phenotype click on the relevant allele symbol.
Lethality
Allele
Other Phenotypes
Allele
Phenotype manifest in
Allele
Orthologs
Human Orthologs (via DIOPT v9.1)
Species\Gene Symbol
Score
Best Score
Best Reverse Score
Alignment
Complementation?
Transgene?
Homo sapiens (Human) (18)
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
Model Organism Orthologs (via DIOPT v9.1)
Species\Gene Symbol
Score
Best Score
Best Reverse Score
Alignment
Complementation?
Transgene?
Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat) (14)
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
No
Mus musculus (laboratory mouse) (21)
2 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
No
No
1 of 14
No
No
1 of 14
No
Yes
1 of 14
No
No
1 of 14
No
Yes
1 of 14
No
No
1 of 14
No
No
1 of 14
No
No
1 of 14
No
No
1 of 14
No
No
1 of 14
No
Yes
1 of 14
No
Yes
1 of 14
No
No
1 of 14
No
No
1 of 14
No
No
1 of 14
No
No
1 of 14
No
Yes
1 of 14
No
No
1 of 14
No
No
1 of 14
No
No
Xenopus tropicalis (Western clawed frog) (19)
1 of 13
Yes
No
1 of 13
Yes
No
1 of 13
Yes
Yes
1 of 13
Yes
No
1 of 13
Yes
No
1 of 13
Yes
No
1 of 13
Yes
Yes
1 of 13
Yes
No
1 of 13
Yes
No
1 of 13
Yes
Yes
1 of 13
Yes
No
1 of 13
Yes
No
1 of 13
Yes
No
1 of 13
Yes
No
1 of 13
Yes
No
1 of 13
Yes
Yes
1 of 13
Yes
Yes
1 of 13
Yes
Yes
1 of 13
Yes
No
Danio rerio (Zebrafish) (11)
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematode, roundworm) (12)
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
No
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
Anopheles gambiae (African malaria mosquito) (3)
11 of 12
Yes
Yes
Arabidopsis thaliana (thale-cress) (1)
1 of 13
Yes
Yes
Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Brewer's yeast) (2)
1 of 13
Yes
Yes
1 of 13
Yes
Yes
Schizosaccharomyces pombe (Fission yeast) (0)
Escherichia coli (enterobacterium) (0)
Other Organism Orthologs (via OrthoDB)
Data provided directly from OrthoDB:Burs. Refer to their site for version information.
Paralogs
Paralogs (via DIOPT v9.1)
Drosophila melanogaster (Fruit fly) (8)
1 of 13
1 of 13
1 of 13
1 of 13
1 of 13
1 of 13
1 of 13
1 of 13
Human Disease Associations
FlyBase Human Disease Model Reports
    Disease Ontology (DO) Annotations
    Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 0 )
    Allele
    Disease
    Evidence
    References
    Potential Models Based on Orthology ( 0 )
    Human Ortholog
    Disease
    Evidence
    References
    Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 0 )
    Allele
    Disease
    Interaction
    References
    Disease Associations of Human Orthologs (via DIOPT v9.1 and OMIM)
    Note that ortholog calls supported by only 1 or 2 algorithms (DIOPT score < 3) are not shown.
    Homo sapiens (Human)
    Gene name
    Score
    OMIM
    OMIM Phenotype
    DO term
    Complementation?
    Transgene?
    Functional Complementation Data
    Functional complementation data is computed by FlyBase using a combination of the orthology data obtained from DIOPT and OrthoDB and the allele-level genetic interaction data curated from the literature.
    Interactions
    Summary of Physical Interactions
    Summary of Genetic Interactions
    Interaction Browsers

    Please look at the allele data for full details of the genetic interactions
    Starting gene(s)
    Interaction type
    Interacting gene(s)
    Reference
    Starting gene(s)
    Interaction type
    Interacting gene(s)
    Reference
    External Data
    Subunit Structure (UniProtKB)
    Heterodimer of Burs and Pburs.
    (UniProt, Q9VD83 )
    Linkouts
    DroID - A comprehensive database of gene and protein interactions.
    Pathways
    Signaling Pathways (FlyBase)
    Metabolic Pathways
    FlyBase
    External Links
    External Data
    Linkouts
    Class of Gene
    Genomic Location and Detailed Mapping Data
    Chromosome (arm)
    3R
    Recombination map
    3-73
    Cytogenetic map
    Sequence location
    FlyBase Computed Cytological Location
    Cytogenetic map
    Evidence for location
    93F9-93F9
    Limits computationally determined from genome sequence between P{PZ}InR05545 and P{PZ}tsl00617
    Experimentally Determined Cytological Location
    Cytogenetic map
    Notes
    References
    Experimentally Determined Recombination Data
    Location
    Left of (cM)
    Right of (cM)
    Notes
    Stocks and Reagents
    Stocks (10)
    Genomic Clones (17)
     

    Please Note FlyBase no longer curates genomic clone accessions so this list may not be complete

    cDNA Clones (2)
     

    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 JBrowse for alignment of the cDNAs and ESTs to the gene model.

    cDNA clones, fully sequenced
    BDGP DGC clones
      Other clones
      Drosophila Genomics Resource Center cDNA clones

      For each fully sequenced cDNA the DGRC maintains various forms of the cDNA (e.g tagged or untagged) in several different host vectors for subsequent cloning and expression in Drosophila and Drosophila cell lines.

      cDNA Clones, End Sequenced (ESTs)
      BDGP DGC clones
        Other clones
          RNAi and Array Information
          Linkouts
          DRSC - Results frm RNAi screens
          Antibody Information
          Laboratory Generated Antibodies
          Commercially Available Antibodies
           
          Cell Line Information
          Publicly Available Cell Lines
           
            Other Stable Cell Lines
             
              Other Comments

              The rk receptor and its signal Burs appear to be involved in intercellular communication within the border follicle cell cluster itself during border cell migration, as the Burs signal is only required in the border cells.

              Bioactive D.melanogaster bursicon is a heterodimer composed of the burs and pburs polypeptides. burs protein by itself does not have bursicon bioactivity.

              Mutants block delamination, migration and bonding of cuticle layers during wing maturation.

              Relationship to Other Genes
              Source for database merge of

              Source for merge of: burs frl

              Additional comments
              Nomenclature History
              Source for database identify of

              Source for identity of: bursicon CG13419

              Source for identity of: Burs burs

              Nomenclature comments
              Etymology
              Synonyms and Secondary IDs (24)
              Reported As
              Symbol Synonym
              Bursicon α
              Bursicon-α
              frl
              Secondary FlyBase IDs
                Datasets (0)
                Study focus (0)
                Experimental Role
                Project
                Project Type
                Title
                Study result (0)
                Result
                Result Type
                Title
                External Crossreferences and Linkouts ( 28 )
                Sequence Crossreferences
                NCBI Gene - Gene integrates information from a wide range of species. A record may include nomenclature, Reference Sequences (RefSeqs), maps, pathways, variations, phenotypes, and links to genome-, phenotype-, and locus-specific resources worldwide.
                GenBank Nucleotide - A collection of sequences from several sources, including GenBank, RefSeq, TPA, and PDB.
                GenBank Protein - A collection of sequences from several sources, including translations from annotated coding regions in GenBank, RefSeq and TPA, as well as records from SwissProt, PIR, PRF, and PDB.
                RefSeq - A comprehensive, integrated, non-redundant, well-annotated set of reference sequences including genomic, transcript, and protein.
                UniProt/GCRP - The gene-centric reference proteome (GCRP) provides a 1:1 mapping between genes and UniProt accessions in which a single 'canonical' isoform represents the product(s) of each protein-coding gene.
                UniProt/Swiss-Prot - Manually annotated and reviewed records of protein sequence and functional information
                Other crossreferences
                AlphaFold DB - AlphaFold provides open access to protein structure predictions for the human proteome and other key proteins of interest, to accelerate scientific research.
                DRscDB - A single-cell RNA-seq resource for data mining and data comparison across species
                EMBL-EBI Single Cell Expression Atlas - Single cell expression across species
                FlyAtlas2 - A Drosophila melanogaster expression atlas with RNA-Seq, miRNA-Seq and sex-specific data
                FlyMine - An integrated database for Drosophila genomics
                InterPro - A database of protein families, domains and functional sites
                KEGG Genes - Molecular building blocks of life in the genomic space.
                MARRVEL_MODEL - MARRVEL (model organism gene)
                Linkouts
                Drosophila Genomics Resource Center - Drosophila Genomics Resource Center (DGRC) cDNA clones
                DroID - A comprehensive database of gene and protein interactions.
                DRSC - Results frm RNAi screens
                Eukaryotic Promoter Database - A collection of databases of experimentally validated promoters for selected model organisms.
                FlyAtlas - Adult expression by tissue, using Affymetrix Dros2 array
                FlyCyc Genes - Genes from a BioCyc PGDB for Dmel
                Flygut - An atlas of the Drosophila adult midgut
                iBeetle-Base - RNAi phenotypes in the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum)
                Interactive Fly - A cyberspace guide to Drosophila development and metazoan evolution
                References (131)