The lexA(DBD)::Zip- entry in FlyBase represents a hemidriver that contains the DNA-binding domain from the Escherichia coli lexA gene (ECOGENE:EG10533) fused to the Zip- heterodimerizing leucine zipper (the RR[[12]]EE[[345]]L zipper from PMID:11344333). It forms one half of a 'Split lexA' system: when combined in vivo with a hemidriver containing a transcriptional activation domain fused to the Zip+ heterodimerizing leucine zipper (the EE[[12]]RR[[345]]L zipper from PMID:11344333), the interaction between the Zip+/Zip- heterodimerizing pair can reconstitute a functional transcriptional activator that can drive transcription of a downstream gene of interest. Since transcription is only activated at the intersection of the expression patterns of the two hemidrivers, the Split lexA system can be used to drive expression in a restricted pattern. The lexA(DBD)::Zip- hemidriver is compatible with any activation domain hemidriver containing the Zip+ domain. The reconstituted transcriptional activator binds specifically to the lexAop regulatory sequence due to the presence of the lexA DNA-binding domain.