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. 2008 Mar 11;6(3):e58. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0060058

Figure 6. Abd-B, but Not Other Hox Genes, Is Required for Ilp7 Expression.

Figure 6

(A) Hox code in wild-type posterior dMP2 neurons at the onset of Ilp7 expression. While A8 and A9 only express Abd-B, A6 and A7 co-express Abd-A and Abd-B. Ubx expression is occasionally detected in A6. Note no Hox expression in A8 other than Abd-B.

(B) Wild-type Ilp7 expression in A6–A9.

(C) Hox code of posterior dMP2 neurons in Abd-Bm, rpr, skl mutants: A6 and A7 express Hox genes other than Abd-B (namely Abd-A and, occasionally, Ubx), A8 is a Hox-free dMP2, and A9 expresses Abd-B, like in the wild-type.

(D) Ilp7 immunoreactivity in Abd-Bm, rpr, skl mutants is only apparent in A9: the only segment with Abd-B expression.

(E–J) Other aspects of dMP2 identity are generally unaffected by the absence of Hox expression.

A8 dMP2 neurons express early markers, such as Odd (E), Fkh (F), and Hb9 (G).

Expression of pMad and Dimm is occasionally affected (H and I, arrows).

No pathfinding defects are apparent (J).

(K) Postmitotic, cell-autonomous expression of Abd-B in dMP2 neurons rescues Ilp7 expression in Abd-B, rpr, skl mutants.

By contrast, expression of other Hox genes does not rescue (L and M).

(N) No Ilp7 rescue by restoring wild-type Dimm and pMad expression in Abd-B, rpr, skl mutants.

Genotypes: (A and B) dMP2-GAL4/UAS-nmEGFP; (C and D) UAS-nmEGFP/+; dMP2-GAL4,H99,AbdBM5/XR38,AbdBM5; (E–J) UAS-CD8-GFP/+; dMP2-GAL4,H99,AbdBM5/XR38,AbdBM5; (K) UAS-Abd-B/+; dMP2-GAL4,H99,AbdBM5/XR38,AbdBM5; (L) dMP2-GAL4,H99,AbdBM5/UAS-abd-A,XR38,AbdBM5; (M) UAS-Ubx/+; dMP2-GAL4,H99,AbdBM5/XR38,AbdBM5; and (N) UAS-tkvA,UAS-saxA/+; dMP2-GAL4,H99,AbdBM5/UAS-Dimm,XR38,AbdBM5.