Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 1 July 1983:
Vol. 221. no. 4605, pp. 23 - 29
DOI: 10.1126/science.221.4605.23
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Molecular Genetics of the Bithorax Complex in Drosophila melanogaster

Welcome Bender 1, Michael Akam 2, François Karch 1, Philip A. Beachy 3, Mark Peifer 1, Pierre Spierer 4, E. B. Lewis 5, and David S. Hogness 6

1 Investigators in the Department of Biological Chemistry at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
2 MRC Senior Fellow in the Department of Genetics, Cambridge University, Cambridge CB2 3EH, England.
3 Graduate student in the Department of Biochemistry at Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305.
4 Investigator in the Department of Molecular Biology, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
5 Professor in the Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 91125.
6 Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305.

The bithorax complex in Drosophila melanogaster is a cluster of homeotic genes that specify developmental pathways for many of the body segments of the fly. The DNA of the bithorax complex has been isolated, and a region of 195,000 base pairs that covers the left half of the complex is described here. The lesions associated with many of the bithorax complex mutants have been identified, and most are due to DNA rearrangements. Most of the spontaneous mutants have insertions of a particular mobile element named "gypsy." This element affects the functions of sequences removed from the site of insertion. Mutant lesions for a given phenotypic class are distributed over large DNA distances of up to 73,000 base pairs.

Submitted on March 17, 1983
Revised on May 11, 1983


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Genetic Mapping in Human Disease.
D. Altshuler, M. J. Daly, and E. S. Lander (2008)
Science 322, 881-888
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Ultrabithorax Hox gene of Drosophila controls haltere size by regulating the Dpp pathway.
L. F. de Navas, D. L. Garaulet, and E. Sanchez-Herrero (2006)
Development 133, 4495-4506
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Dissecting the regulatory landscape of the Abd-B gene of the bithorax complex.
J. Mihaly, S. Barges, L. Sipos, R. Maeda, F. Cleard, I. Hogga, W. Bender, H. Gyurkovics, and F. Karch (2006)
Development 133, 2983-2993
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The ABC of the BX-C: the bithorax complex explained.
R. K. Maeda and F. Karch (2006)
Development 133, 1413-1422
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Pleiotropic functions of a conserved insect-specific Hox peptide motif.
C. T. Hittinger, D. L. Stern, and S. B. Carroll (2005)
Development 132, 5261-5270
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Synergistic recognition of an epigenetic DNA element by Pleiohomeotic and a Polycomb core complex.
A. Mohd-Sarip, F. Cleard, R. K. Mishra, F. Karch, and C. P. Verrijzer (2005)
Genes & Dev. 19, 1755-1760
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Morphogenesis of Flowers--Our Evolving View.
D. R. Smyth (2005)
PLANT CELL 17, 330-341
   Full Text »    PDF »
The Evolution of Transcriptional Regulation in Eukaryotes.
G. A. Wray, M. W. Hahn, E. Abouheif, J. P. Balhoff, M. Pizer, M. V. Rockman, and L. A. Romano (2003)
Mol. Biol. Evol. 20, 1377-1419
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
GAGA facilitates binding of Pleiohomeotic to a chromatinized Polycomb response element.
T. Mahmoudi, L. M. P. Zuijderduijn, A. Mohd-Sarip, and C. P. Verrijzer (2003)
Nucleic Acids Res. 31, 4147-4156
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
C. B. Bridges' Repeat Hypothesis and the Nature of the Gene.
E. B. Lewis (2003)
Genetics 164, 427-431
   Full Text »    PDF »
Genetic and molecular characterization of a novel iab-8 regulatory domain in the Abdominal-B gene of Drosophila melanogaster.
B. Estrada, F. Casares, A. Busturia, and E. Sanchez-Herrero (2003)
Development 129, 5195-5204
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Biological functions of the ISWI chromatin remodeling complex NURF.
P. Badenhorst, M. Voas, I. Rebay, and C. Wu (2002)
Genes & Dev. 16, 3186-3198
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Role of Histone H3 Lysine 27 Methylation in Polycomb-Group Silencing.
R. Cao, L. Wang, H. Wang, L. Xia, H. Erdjument-Bromage, P. Tempst, R. S. Jones, and Y. Zhang (2002)
Science 298, 1039-1043
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Asymmetric Functional Divergence of Duplicate Genes in Yeast.
A. Wagner (2002)
Mol. Biol. Evol. 19, 1760-1768
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
E. B. Lewis and the Bithorax Complex: Part II. From cis-trans Test to the Genetic Control of Development.
I. Duncan and G. Montgomery (2002)
Genetics 161, 1-10
   Full Text »    PDF »
Sequence of the Tribolium castaneum Homeotic Complex: The Region Corresponding to the Drosophila melanogaster Antennapedia Complex.
S. J. Brown, J. P. Fellers, T. D. Shippy, E. A. Richardson, M. Maxwell, J. J. Stuart, and R. E. Denell (2002)
Genetics 160, 1067-1074
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Transcription activates repressed domains in the Drosophila bithorax complex.
W. Bender and D. P. Fitzgerald (2002)
Development 129, 4923-4930
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Site-Specific Recognition of a 70-Base-Pair Element Containing d(GA)n Repeats Mediates bithoraxoid Polycomb Group Response Element-Dependent Silencing.
J. W. Hodgson, B. Argiropoulos, and H. W. Brock (2001)
Mol. Cell. Biol. 21, 4528-4543
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The iab-7 Polycomb Response Element Maps to a Nucleosome-Free Region of Chromatin and Requires Both GAGA and Pleiohomeotic for Silencing Activity.
R. K. Mishra, J. Mihaly, S. Barges, A. Spierer, F. Karch, K. Hagstrom, S. E. Schweinsberg, and P. Schedl (2001)
Mol. Cell. Biol. 21, 1311-1318
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A Physical Map of the Polytenized Region (101EF-102F) of Chromosome 4 in Drosophila melanogaster.
J. Locke, L. Podemski, N. Aippersbach, H. Kemp, and R. Hodgetts (2000)
Genetics 155, 1175-1183
   Abstract »    Full Text »
A Brief History of Drosophila's Contributions to Genome Research.
G. M. Rubin and E. B. Lewis (2000)
Science 287, 2216-2218
   Abstract »    Full Text »
P element homing to the Drosophila bithorax complex.
W Bender and A Hudson (2000)
Development 127, 3981-3992
   Abstract »    PDF »
Ultrabithorax and the control of cell morphology in Drosophila halteres.
F Roch and M Akam (2000)
Development 127, 97-107
   Abstract »    PDF »
Trithorax- and Polycomb-Group Response Elements within an Ultrabithorax Transcription Maintenance Unit Consist of Closely Situated but Separable Sequences.
S. Tillib, S. Petruk, Y. Sedkov, A. Kuzin, M. Fujioka, T. Goto, and A. Mazo (1999)
Mol. Cell. Biol. 19, 5189-5202
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Genetic Localization of a Drosophila melanogaster Resistance Gene to a Parasitoid Wasp and Physical Mapping of the Region.
M. T. Hita, M. Poirié, N. Leblanc, F. Lemeunier, F. Lutcher, F. Frey, G. Periquet, and Y. Carton (1999)
Genome Res. 9, 471-481
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Analysis of Two Cosmid Clones from Chromosome 4 of Drosophila melanogaster Reveals Two New Genes Amid an Unusual Arrangement of Repeated Sequences.
J. Locke, L. Podemski, K. Roy, D. Pilgrim, and R. Hodgetts (1999)
Genome Res. 9, 137-149
   Abstract »    Full Text »
double-time is identical to discs overgrown, which is required for cell survival, proliferation and growth arrest in Drosophila imaginal discs.
O Zilian, E Frei, R Burke, D Brentrup, T Gutjahr, P. Bryant, and M Noll (1999)
Development 126, 5409-5420
   Abstract »    PDF »
Su(UR)ES: A gene suppressing DNA underreplication in intercalary and pericentric heterochromatin of Drosophila melanogaster polytene chromosomes.
E. S. Belyaeva, I. F. Zhimulev, E. I. Volkova, A. A. Alekseyenko, Y. M. Moshkin, and D. E. Koryakov (1998)
PNAS 95, 7532-7537
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Transvection in the Drosophila Abd-B Domain: Extensive Upstream Sequences Are Involved in Anchoring Distant cis-Regulatory Regions to the Promoter.
L. Sipos, J. Mihaly, F. Karch, P. Schedl, J. Gausz, and H. Gyurkovics (1998)
Genetics 149, 1031-1050
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Homologous association of the Bithorax-Complex during embryogenesis: consequences for transvection in Drosophila melanogaster.
M. Gemkow, P. Verveer, and D. Arndt-Jovin (1998)
Development 125, 4541-4552
   Abstract »    PDF »
shaven and sparkling are mutations in separate enhancers of the Drosophila Pax2 homolog.
W Fu, H Duan, E Frei, and M Noll (1998)
Development 125, 2943-2950
   Abstract »    PDF »
Polycomb Group Repression Is Blocked by the Drosophila suppressor of Hairy-wing [su(Hw)] Insulator.
(1998)
Genetics 148, 331-340
In situ dissection of the Fab-7 region of the bithorax complex into a chromatin domain boundary and a Polycomb-response element.
J Mihaly, I Hogga, J Gausz, H Gyurkovics, and F Karch (1997)
Development 124, 1809-1820
   Abstract »    PDF »
The hardwiring of development: organization and function of genomic regulatory systems.
M. Arnone and E. Davidson (1997)
Development 124, 1851-1864
   Abstract »    PDF »
Redundant control of Ultrabithorax by zeste involves functional levels of zeste protein binding at the Ultrabithorax promoter.
J. Laney and M. Biggin (1996)
Development 122, 2303-2311
   Abstract »    PDF »
A P1-based physical map of the Drosophila euchromatic genome..
W Kimmerly, K Stultz, S Lewis, K Lewis, V Lustre, R Romero, J Benke, D Sun, G Shirley, C Martin, et al. (1996)
Genome Res. 6, 414-430
   Abstract »    PDF »
How the Hox gene Ultrabithorax specifies two different segments: the significance of spatial and temporal regulation within metameres.
J Castelli-Gair and M Akam (1995)
Development 121, 2973-2982
   Abstract »    PDF »
Discrete Polycomb-binding sites in each parasegmental domain of the bithorax complex.
A Chiang, M. O'Connor, R Paro, J Simon, and W Bender (1995)
Development 121, 1681-1689
   Abstract »    PDF »
Homology of the eyeless gene of Drosophila to the Small eye gene in mice and Aniridia in humans.
R Quiring, U Walldorf, U Kloter, and W. Gehring (1994)
Science 265, 785-789
   Abstract »    PDF »
Two homeo domain proteins bind with similar specificity to a wide range of DNA sites in Drosophila embryos..
J Walter, C A Dever, and M D Biggin (1994)
Genes & Dev. 8, 1678-1692
   Abstract »    PDF »
Negative autoregulation by Ultrabithorax controls the level and pattern of its expression.
K. D. Irvine, J. Botas, S. Jha, R. S. Mann, and D. S. Hogness (1993)
Development 117, 387-399
   Abstract »    PDF »
DNA position-specific repression of transcription by a Drosophila zinc finger protein..
P K Geyer and V G Corces (1992)
Genes & Dev. 6, 1865-1873
   Abstract »    PDF »
zeste, a nonessential gene, potently activates Ultrabithorax transcription in the Drosophila embryo..
J D Laney and M D Biggin (1992)
Genes & Dev. 6, 1531-1541
   Abstract »    PDF »
Clusters of Master Control Genes Regulate the Development of Higher Organisms.
E. B. Lewis (1992)
JAMA 267, 1524-1531
   PDF »
The polyhomeotic gene of Drosophila encodes a chromatin protein that shares polytene chromosome-binding sites with Polycomb..
M DeCamillis, N S Cheng, D Pierre, and H W Brock (1992)
Genes & Dev. 6, 223-232
   Abstract »    PDF »
tudor, a posterior-group gene of Drosophila melanogaster, encodes a novel protein and an mRNA localized during mid-oogenesis..
G S Golumbeski, A Bardsley, F Tax, and R E Boswell (1991)
Genes & Dev. 5, 2060-2070
   Abstract »    PDF »
Toward cloning and mapping the genome of Drosophila.
J Merriam, M Ashburner, D. Hartl, and F. Kafatos (1991)
Science 254, 221-225
   Abstract »    PDF »
abdA expression in Drosophila embryos..
F Karch, W Bender, and B Weiffenbach (1990)
Genes & Dev. 4, 1573-1587
   Abstract »    PDF »
Mutations in the Drosophila gene extradenticle affect the way specific homeo domain proteins regulate segmental identity..
M Peifer and E Wieschaus (1990)
Genes & Dev. 4, 1209-1223
   Abstract »    PDF »
The morphogenetic and regulatory functions of the Drosophila Abdominal-B gene are encoded in overlapping RNAs transcribed from separate promoters..
M Zavortink and S Sakonju (1989)
Genes & Dev. 3, 1969-1981
   Abstract »    PDF »
Searching for pattern and mutation in the Drosophila genome with a P-lacZ vector..
E Bier, H Vaessin, S Shepherd, K Lee, K McCall, S Barbel, L Ackerman, R Carretto, T Uemura, and E Grell (1989)
Genes & Dev. 3, 1273-1287
   Abstract »    PDF »
The molecular genetics of the bithorax complex of Drosophila: characterization of the products of the Abdominal-B domain..
S E Celniker, D J Keelan, and E B Lewis (1989)
Genes & Dev. 3, 1424-1436
   Abstract »    PDF »
Construction of large DNA segments in Escherichia coli.
M O'Connor, M Peifer, and W Bender (1989)
Science 244, 1307-1312
   Abstract »    PDF »
A neuron-specific enhancer of the Drosophila dopa decarboxylase gene..
W A Johnson, C A McCormick, S J Bray, and J Hirsh (1989)
Genes & Dev. 3, 676-686
   Abstract »    PDF »
Isolation, structure, and expression of labial, a homeotic gene of the Antennapedia Complex involved in Drosophila head development..
R J Diederich, V K Merrill, M A Pultz, and T C Kaufman (1989)
Genes & Dev. 3, 399-414
   Abstract »    PDF »
Structure and expression of a family of Ultrabithorax mRNAs generated by alternative splicing and polyadenylation in Drosophila..
K Kornfeld, R B Saint, P A Beachy, P J Harte, D A Peattie, and D S Hogness (1989)
Genes & Dev. 3, 243-258
   Abstract »    PDF »
Control elements of the P2 promoter of the Antennapedia gene..
A M Boulet and M P Scott (1988)
Genes & Dev. 2, 1600-1614
   Abstract »    PDF »
Molecular genetics: applications to the clinical neurosciences.
J. Martin (1987)
Science 238, 765-772
   Abstract »    PDF »
The bithorax complex: control of segmental identity.
M. Peifer, F. Karch, and W. Bender (1987)
Genes & Dev. 1, 891-898
   PDF »
Homeo boxes in the study of development.
W. Gehring (1987)
Science 236, 1245-1252
   Abstract »    PDF »
Ultrabithorax mutations in constant and variable regions of the protein coding sequence.
R. Weinzierl, J. M. Axton, A. Ghysen, and M. Akam (1987)
Genes & Dev. 1, 386-397
   Abstract »    PDF »
Novel transcripts from the Ultrabithorax domain of the bithorax complex..
H D Lipshitz, D A Peattie, and D S Hogness (1987)
Genes & Dev. 1, 307-322
   Abstract »    PDF »
Transabdominal, a dominant mutant of the Bithorax Complex, produces a sexually dimorphic segmental transformation in Drosophila..
S E Celniker and E B Lewis (1987)
Genes & Dev. 1, 111-123
   Abstract »    PDF »
Spatially regulated expression of homeotic genes in Drosophila.
K Harding, C Wedeen, W McGinnis, and M Levine (1985)
Science 229, 1236-1242
   Abstract »    PDF »
Regulation of the Genes of the Bithorax Complex in Drosophila.
E.B. Lewis (1985)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 50, 155-164
   Abstract »    PDF »
Domains of cis-Interaction in the Bithorax Complex.
W. Bender, B. Weiffenbach, F. Karch, and M. Peifer (1985)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 50, 173-180
   Abstract »    PDF »
Regulation and Products of the Ubx Domain of the Bithorax Complex.
D.S. Hogness, H.D. Lipshitz, P.A. Beachy, D.A. Peattie, R.B. Saint, M. Goldschmidt-Clermont, P.J. Harte, E.R. Gavis, and S.L. Helfand (1985)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 50, 181-194
   Abstract »    PDF »
Function and Expression of Ultrabithorax in the Drosophila Embryo.
M.E. Akam, A. Martinez-Arias, R. Weinzierl, and C.D. Wilde (1985)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 50, 195-200
   Abstract »    PDF »
Genetic Control of the Spatial Pattern of Selector Gene Expression in Drosophila.
P.W. Ingham (1985)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 50, 201-208
   Abstract »    PDF »
Expression of the Homeo Box Gene Family in Drosophila.
M. Levine, K. Harding, C. Wedeen, H. Doyle, T. Hoey, and H. Radomska (1985)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 50, 209-222
   Abstract »    PDF »
Homeotic Genes, the Homeo Box, and the Genetic Control of Development.
W. J. Gehring (1985)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 50, 243-251
   Abstract »    PDF »
Common Properties of Proteins Encoded by the Antennapedia Complex Genes of Drosophila melanogaster.
A. Laughon, S.B. Carroll, F.A. Storfer, P.D. Riley, and M.P. Scott (1985)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 50, 253-262
   Abstract »    PDF »
Homeo Box Sequences of the Antennapedia Class Are Conserved Only in Higher Animal Genomes.
W. McGinnis (1985)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 50, 263-270
   Abstract »    PDF »
The Xenopus Homeo Boxes.
E.M. De Robertis, A. Fritz, J. Goetz, G. Martin, I.W. Wattaj, E. Salo, G.D. Smith, C. Wright, and R. Zeller (1985)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 50, 271-275
   Abstract »    PDF »
Human cDNA Clones Containing Homeo Box Sequences.
E. Boncinelli, A. Simeone, A. La Volpe, A. Faiella, V. Fidanza, D. Acampora, and L. Scotto (1985)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 50, 301-306
   Abstract »    PDF »
Control of Sexual Differentiation in Drosophila melanogaster.
J.M. Belote, M.B. McKeown, D.J. Andrew, T.N. Scott, M.F. Wolfner, and B.S. Baker (1985)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 50, 605-614
   Abstract »    PDF »
Neurogenesis in Grasshopper and fushi tarazu Drosophila Embryos.
C.Q. Doe and C.S. Goodman (1985)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 50, 891-903
   Abstract »    PDF »
Genes That Guide Fruit Fly Development: Studies of genes that control fruit fly segmentation reveal a common DNA sequence that may provide clues to the regulation of early development.
J. L. MARX (1984)
Science 224, 1223-1225
   PDF »
The Bithorax Complex of Drosophila melanogaster: Underreplication and morphology in polytene chromosomes.
Y. M. Moshkin, A. A. Alekseyenko, V. F. Semeshin, A. Spierer, P. Spierer, G. F. Makarevich, E. S. Belyaeva, and I. F. Zhimulev (2001)
PNAS 98, 570-574
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)