Abstract
The acquisition of competence is a key mechanism for refining global signals to distinct spatial and temporal responses. The molecular basis of competence, however, remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the beta FTZ-F1 orphan nuclear receptor functions as a competence factor for stage-specific responses to the steroid hormone ecdysone during Drosophila metamorphosis. beta FTZ-F1 mutants pupariate normally in response to the late larval pulse of ecdysone but display defects in stage-specific responses to the subsequent ecdysone pulse in prepupae. The ecdysone-triggered genetic hierarchy that directs these developmental responses is severely attenuated in beta FTZ-F1 mutants, although ecdysone receptor expression is unaffected. This study define beta FTZ-F1 as an essential competence factor for stage-specific responses to a steroid signal and implicates interplay among nuclear receptors as a mechanism for achieving hormonal competence.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Alleles
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Animals
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Cell Nucleus / metabolism
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DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
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Drosophila Proteins
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Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
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Drosophila melanogaster / growth & development*
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Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism
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Ecdysone / pharmacology
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Ecdysone / physiology*
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Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
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Genes, Lethal
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Insect Proteins
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Larva / drug effects
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Metamorphosis, Biological / genetics
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Mutagenesis, Insertional
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Phenotype
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Pupa
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Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
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Steroidogenic Factor 1
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Transcription Factors / physiology*
Substances
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Drosophila Proteins
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Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Insect Proteins
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Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
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Steroidogenic Factor 1
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Transcription Factors
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ftz protein, Drosophila
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nuclear hormone receptor FTZ-F1, Drosophila
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Ecdysone