Effect on eye development of dominant mutations in Drosophila homologue of the EGF receptor

N E Baker; G M Rubin

doi:10.1038/340150a0

Effect on eye development of dominant mutations in Drosophila homologue of the EGF receptor

Nature. 1989 Jul 13;340(6229):150-3. doi: 10.1038/340150a0.

Authors

N E Baker¹, G M Rubin

Affiliation

¹ Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley 94720.

PMID: 2500601
DOI: 10.1038/340150a0

Abstract

The compound eye of the adult fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster, comprises about 800 identical ommatidia, or unit eyes, each containing 20 distinct cells. We have used histological and immunocytochemical methods to study the development of the compound eye in Ellipse (Elp) mutants. In Elp/Elp, most ommatidia do not initiate differentiation. We present genetic evidence that Elp alleles are mutations of the Drosophila homologue of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, and suggest that activity of the EGF receptor may determine the spacing pattern of ommatidia in the eye.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Cell Differentiation
Chromosome Deletion
Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
Drosophila melanogaster / growth & development*
Embryo, Nonmammalian
ErbB Receptors / genetics*
ErbB Receptors / physiology
Eye / cytology
Eye / growth & development
Female
Genes, Dominant*
Male
Mutation*
Ocular Physiological Phenomena
Phenotype
Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

Substances

ErbB Receptors