del Alamo Rodriguez, D., Terriente, J., Galindo, M.I., Couso, J.P., Diaz-Benjumea, F.J. (2002). Different mechanisms initiate and maintain wingless expression in the Drosophila wing hinge.  Development 129(17): 3995--4004.

FBrf0151276

Research paper

The Drosophila gene wingless encodes a secreted signalling molecule that is required for many patterning events in both embryonic and postembryonic development. In the wing wingless is expressed in a complex and dynamic pattern that is controlled by several different mechanisms. These involve the Hedgehog and Notch pathways and the nuclear proteins Pannier and U-shaped. In this report, we analyse the mechanisms that drive wingless expression in the wing hinge. We present evidence that wingless is initially activated by a secreted signal that requires the genes vestigial, rotund and nubbin. Later in development, wingless expression in the wing hinge is maintained by a different mechanism, which involves an autoregulatory loop and requires the genes homothorax and rotund. We discuss the role of wingless in patterning the wing hinge.