Molecular interactions between Vestigial and Scalloped promote wing formation in Drosophila
- Andrew J. Simmonds1,4,
- Xiaofeng Liu3,4,
- Kelly H. Soanes2,
- Henry M. Krause1,
- Kenneth D. Irvine3, and
- John B. Bell2,5
- 1Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, Charles H. Best Institute, University of Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L6, Canada; 2Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada; 3Waksman Institute and Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers, The State University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854 USA
Abstract
Scalloped (Sd) and Vestigial (Vg) are each needed forDrosophila wing development. We show that Sd is required for Vg function and that altering their relative cellular levels inhibits wing formation. In vitro, Vg binds directly to both Sd and its human homolog, Transcription Enhancer Factor-1. The interaction domains map to a small region of Vg that is essential for Vg-mediated gene activation and to the carboxy-terminal half of Sd. Our observations indicate that Vg and Sd function coordinately to control the expression of genes required for wing development, which implies that Vg is a tissue-specific transcriptional intermediary factor of Sd.
