The gene serpent has homeotic properties and specifies endoderm versus ectoderm within the Drosophila gut

Development ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. 1123-1135 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Reuter

The gut of Drosophila consists of ectodermally derived foregut and hindgut and endodermally derived midgut. Here I show that the gene serpent plays a key role in the development of the endoderm. serpent embryos lack the entire midgut and do not show endodermal differentiation. They gastrulate normally and form proper amnioproctodeal and anterior midgut invaginations. However, the prospective anterior midgut cells acquire properties that are usually found in ectodermal foregut cells. In the posterior region of the embryo, the prospective posterior midgut forms an additional hindgut which is contiguous with the normal hindgut and which appears to be a serial duplication, not a mere enlargement of the hindgut. The fate shifts in both the anterior and the posterior part of the srp embryo can be described in terms of homeotic transformations of anterior midgut to foregut and of posterior midgut to hindgut. serpent appears to act as a homeotic gene downstream of the terminal gap gene huckebein and to promote morphogenesis and differentiation of anterior and posterior midgut.

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 490-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Custódio D. Santos ◽  
Alberto F. Ribeiro ◽  
Walter R. Terra

Subcellular fractions of the cells from the first and last third of midguts from Erinnyis ello caterpillars were obtained by conventional homogenization, followed by differential centrifugation or differential calcium precipitation, as well as by partial ultrasonic disruption. Aminopeptidase was enriched in the subcellular fractions, which in the electron microscope display mainly microvilli from the columnar cells (obtained by differential centrifugation and ultrasonic disruption), and also in the microvilli fraction obtained by differential precipitation. To account for the enzyme activities that sedimented with vesicles displaying brush borders, major amounts of the soluble glycosidases (cellobiase, N-acetylglucosaminidase, maltase, and trehalase) are assumed to be loosely bound to the cell glycocalyx, from where they are set free by homogenization and (or) freezing–thawing. Intracellular glycosidases seem to be bounded by membranes, which sediment together with vesicles that resemble secretory vesicles. The soluble form of amylase occurred mainly associated with the microvilli of anterior midgut cells and is supposed to be contained inside small vesicles, which are seen budding along columnar cell microvilli and fusing one with the other and with the tips of the microvilli from the anterior midgut cells. Secretory mechanisms are discussed in the light of the evidence that the posterior midgut secretes whereas the anterior midgut absorbs water.


1990 ◽  
Vol 150 (1) ◽  
pp. 247-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
JULIAN A.T. DOW ◽  
MICHAEL J. O'DONNELL

1. Midguts of the larva of the tobacco hornworm larva, Manduca sexta, were isolated, pinned out and double perfused on the stage of an inverted microscope. The pH gradients across the anterior, middle and posterior regions of the gut were measured with a double-barrelled pH microelectrode, simultaneously with electrical potentials and the transepithelial potential difference (TEP). 2. The microenvironment surrounding the apical surface is more alkaline, and that surrounding the basal surface more acid, than either the perfusion medium or the intracellular pH. Under double perfusion, a stable gradient of 1.4 pH units is observed across the middle midgut. A similar gradient is found across the anterior midgut, but no significant pH difference occurs across the posterior midgut. 3. The pH gradient across the middle midgut is reversibly and symmetrically collapsed by anoxia, implying that it is sustained by a process requiring oxidative phosphorylation. 4. The time course of decay and reconstitution of the pH gradient matches closely the activity of electrogenic K+ pumping, as measured by the TEP. 5. These results are consistent with a model for high pH generation which links electrogenic K+ transport into the goblet cavities with net alkalinization of the lumen of the anterior and middle midgut regions.


Development ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 120 (10) ◽  
pp. 2799-2809 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.D. Mathies ◽  
S. Kerridge ◽  
M.P. Scott

Homeotic genes control the development of embryonic structure by coordinating the activities of downstream ‘target’ genes. The identities and functions of target genes must be understood in order to learn how homeotic genes control morphogenesis. Drosophila midgut development is regulated by homeotic genes expressed in the visceral mesoderm, where two of their target genes have been identified. Both encode secreted proteins. The Ultrabithorax (Ubx) homeotic gene activates transcription of the decapentaplegic (dpp) gene, which encodes a TGF beta class protein, while in adjacent mesoderm cells the abdominal-A (abd-A) homeotic gene activates transcription of the wingless (wg) gene, which encodes a Wnt class protein. The homeotic genes Antennapedia (Antp) and Sex combs reduced (Scr) act in more anterior midgut regions. Here we report the identification of another homeotic gene target in the midgut mesoderm, the teashirt (tsh) gene, which encodes a protein with zinc finger motifs. tsh is necessary for proper formation of anterior and central midgut structures. Antp activates tsh in anterior midgut mesoderm. In the central midgut mesoderm Ubx, abd-A, dpp, and wg are required for proper tsh expression. The control of tsh by Ubx and abd-A, and probably also by Antp, is mediated by secreted signaling molecules. By responding to signals as well as localized transcription regulators, the tsh transcription factor is produced in a spatial pattern distinct from any of the homeotic genes.


Development ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 1135-1145 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Reuter ◽  
B. Grunewald ◽  
M. Leptin

The endodermal midgut arises from two primordia, the anterior midgut (AMG) primordium and the posterior midgut (PMG) primordium, which are separated by almost the entire length of the Drosophila embryo. To form the midgut, these two parts have to extend towards each other and to fuse laterally on both sides of the yolk. Shortly before and during that movement, AMG and PMG are arranged as mesenchymal cell masses, but later the midgut cells form an epithelium. We show that these two aspects of midgut development, migration of AMG and PMG and transition to an epithelium, depend on the mesoderm. The extension of the midgut primordia is achieved by cell migration along the visceral mesoderm which forms a continuous layer of cells within the germ band. In mutant embryos lacking the entire mesoderm or failing to differentiate the visceral mesoderm, AMG and PMG are formed but do not migrate properly. In addition, they fail to form an epithelium and instead either remain as compact cell masses anterior and posterior to the yolk (in twist and snail mutant embryos) or only occasionally wrap around the yolk before embryogenesis is completed (in tinman-deficient embryos). We conclude that the visceral mesoderm serves as a substratum for the migrating endodermal cells and that the contact between visceral mesoderm and endoderm is required for the latter to become an epithelium.


2003 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 2367-2377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinji Ohara ◽  
Fred A. Lenz

We explored the region of human thalamic somatic sensory nucleus (ventral caudal, Vc) with threshold microstimulation during stereotactic procedures for the treatment of tremor (124 thalami, 116 patients). Warm sensations were evoked more frequently in the posterior region than in the core. Proportion of sites where microstimulation evoked cool and pain sensations was not different between the core and the posterior region. In the core, sites where both thermal and pain sensations were evoked were distributed similarly in the medial two planes and the lateral plane. In the posterior region, however, warm sensations were evoked more frequently in the lateral plane (10.8%) than in the medial planes (3.9%). No mediolateral difference was found for sites where pain and cool sensations were evoked. The presence of sites where stimulation evoked taste or where receptive and projected fields were located on the pharynx were used as landmarks of a plane located as medial as the posterior part of the ventral medial nucleus (VMpo). Microstimulation in this plane evoked cool, warm, and pain sensations. The results suggest that thermal and pain sensations are processed in the region of Vc as far medial as VMpo. Thermal and pain sensations seem to be mediated by neural elements in a region likely including the core of Vc, VMpo, and other nuclei posterior and inferior to Vc.


2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 1636-1649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Djane C Baia-da-Silva ◽  
Alessandra S Orfanó ◽  
Rafael Nacif-Pimenta ◽  
Fabricio F de Melo ◽  
Maria G V B Guerra ◽  
...  

Abstract The mosquito gut is divided into foregut, midgut, and hindgut. The midgut functions in storage and digestion of the bloodmeal. This study used light, scanning (SEM), and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy to analyze in detail the microanatomy and morphology of the midgut of nonblood-fed Anopheles aquasalis females. The midgut epithelium is a monolayer of columnar epithelial cells that is composed of two populations: microvillar epithelial cells and basal cells. The microvillar epithelial cells can be further subdivided into light and dark cells, based on their affinities to toluidine blue and their electron density. FITC-labeling of the anterior midgut and posterior midgut with lectins resulted in different fluorescence intensities, indicating differences in carbohydrate residues. SEM revealed a complex muscle network composed of circular and longitudinal fibers that surround the entire midgut. In summary, the use of a diverse set of morphological methods revealed the general microanatomy of the midgut and associated tissues of An. aquasalis, which is a major vector of Plasmodium spp. (Haemosporida: Plasmodiidae) in America.


Genetics ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
pp. 781-795
Author(s):  
J G Gindhart ◽  
A N King ◽  
T C Kaufman

Abstract The Drosophila homeotic gene Sex combs reduced (Scr) controls the segmental identity of the labial and prothoracic segments in the embryo and adult. It encodes a sequence-specific transcription factor that controls, in concert with other gene products, differentiative pathways of tissues in which Scr is expressed. During embryogenesis, Scr accumulation is observed in a discrete spatiotemporal pattern that includes the labial and prothoracic ectoderm, the subesophageal ganglion of the ventral nerve cord and the visceral mesoderm of the anterior and posterior midgut. Previous analyses have demonstrated that breakpoint mutations located in a 75-kb interval, including the Scr transcription unit and 50 kb of upstream DNA, cause Scr misexpression during development, presumably because these mutations remove Scr cis-regulatory sequences from the proximity of the Scr promoter. To gain a better understanding of the regulatory interactions necessary for the control of Scr transcription during embryogenesis, we have begun a molecular analysis of the Scr regulatory interval. DNA fragments from this 75-kb region were subcloned into P-element vectors containing either an Scr-lacZ or hsp70-lacZ fusion gene, and patterns of reporter gene expression were assayed in transgenic embryos. Several fragments appear to contain Scr regulatory sequences, as they direct reporter gene expression in patterns similar to those normally observed for Scr, whereas other DNA fragments direct Scr reporter gene expression in developmentally interesting but non-Scr-like patterns during embryogenesis. Scr expression in some tissues appears to be controlled by multiple regulatory elements that are separated, in some cases, by more than 20 kb of intervening DNA. Interestingly, regulatory sequences that direct reporter gene expression in an Scr-like pattern in the anterior and posterior midgut are imbedded in the regulatory region of the segmentation gene fushi tarazu (ftz), which is normally located between 10 and 20 kb 5' of the Scr transcription start site. This analysis provides an entry point for the study of how Scr transcription is regulated at the molecular level.


Parasitology ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Larissa F. Paranaiba ◽  
Rodrigo P. Soares ◽  
Alessandra A. Guarneri

Abstract The escape kinetics from the anterior midgut (AM) of Trypanosoma cruzi during the initial steps of infection was assessed in Triatoma infestans, as well as its ability to survive migration in the digestive tract of the vector. All the four strains evaluated survived and reached variable parasite densities. After 49–50 days, YuYu [discrete typing units (DTU) I] strain reached the highest parasite numbers in the rectum followed by Bug (DTU V), CL-Brener (DTU VI) and Dm28c (DTU I). All strains accomplished metacyclogenesis. Bug strain reached the highest numbers of metacyclic trypomastigotes followed by YuYu and CL-Brener/Dm28c. A remarkable parasite reduction in the AM for Bug strain, but not Dm28c was noticed at 72 h of infection. In the posterior midgut + rectum high densities of parasites from both strains were detected at this period indicating the parasites crossed the AM. For Dm28c strain, in infections initiated with trypomastigotes, parasites left AM faster than those starting with epimastigotes. In conclusion, T. cruzi strains from different DTUs were able to infect T. infestans reaching variable parasite densities. The kinetics of migration in the digestive tract may be affected by strain and/or the evolutive form used for infection.


The relatively small but densely yolky eggs of balanomorph cirripedes undergo a bilaterally modified spiral cleavage, in which the yolk is confined within a single large cell, 4D, and the yolk cell becomes almost completely enclosed by yolk-free blastomeres as cleavage proceeds to the 33-cell stage. The cleavage sequence is similar in all four species, in spite of differences in the egg size. Presumptive areas are established at the 33-cell stage. The yolk cell 4D, exposed at the surface only postero-ventrally, is presumptive midgut. The cells 3A, 3B and 3C, lying at the surface ventrally in front of the exposed area of the presumptive midgut cell, are presumptive mesoderm. The remainder of the surface layer is presumptive ectoderm, comprising presumptive protocerebral ectoderm anteriorly, naupliar segmental ectoderm laterally, post-naupliar ectoderm posteriorly and temporarily attenuated ectoderm covering the yolk dorsally. A small area of presumptive stomodaeum lies midventrally at the presumptive antennal level. The presumptive midgut cell divides into a pair of yolky anterior midgut cells internally and a pair of small posterior midgut cells postero-ventrally at the surface. The latter migrate in, then posteriorly behind, the anterior midgut rudiment. The anterior midgut rudiment develops as the stomach of the nauplius, through cell division and gradual resorption of yolk. The posterior midgut rudiment develops through cell division as the intestine of the nauplius. The three mesoderm cells migrate inwards, then posteriorly and begin to divide. The products of their divisions concentrate as a posterior mass of mesoderm, from which paired mesodermal bands are proliferated forwards on either side of the anterior midgut. The bands concentrate as paired naupliar somites, which differentiate as naupliar muscles, and also as ventral stomodaeal and labral mesoderm. The residual posterior mass forms post-naupliar mesoderm, including paired groups of mesoteloblasts of the trunk somites. There are no preantennulary somites. The presumptive ectodermal areas develop directly into protocerebral and labral, antennulary, antennal, mandibular and post-naupliar surface epithelium, the latter forming the surface layer of a caudal papilla enclosing the residual post-naupliar mesoderm and the posterior end of the posterior midgut. The ventral naupliar ectoderm in front of, on either side of and behind the labrum and stomodaeum also proliferates the cells of the naupliar central nervous system. Only the mandibular proliferation can be recognized as a distinct ganglion. The dorsal ectoderm becomes temporarily attenuated over the mass of yolky anterior midgut cells, but is contracted and incorporated into the general dorsal epithelium of the naupliar region during later development. A comparison of the formation and fates of presumptive areas in Crustacea reveals that the cirripede mode of development exemplifies a basic developmental pattern for Crustacea. Modifications of development in other groups of crustaceans are all secondary functional adaptations related to the storage and exploitation of yolk during embryonic development. Radial cleavage in the small eggs of some cladocerans, copepods and penaeid malacostracans is a secondary modification of an ancestral spirallybased cleavage in Crustacea. The embryonic development of Crustacea, although based on spiral cleavage, differs fundamentally from the basic embryonic development of the onychophoran-myriapod-hexapod assemblage of arthropods, supporting the hypothesis of polyphyletic origin of the arthropods.


2014 ◽  
Vol 387 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés Lavore ◽  
Natalia Esponda-Behrens ◽  
Lucía Pagola ◽  
Rolando Rivera-Pomar

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