The achaete-scute complex (AS-C) is a group of four genes (achaete, scute, lethal of scute, and asense) in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. These genes encode basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors that have been best studied in their regulation of nervous system development.[1][2] Because of their role in specifying neuroblast fate, the genes of the AS-C are called proneural genes. However, the AS-C has non-proneural functions, such as specifying muscle and gut progenitors.[1] Homologues of AS-C in other animals, including humans and other vertebrates, have similar functions.

Achaete-scute-related
Identifiers
SymbolMASH1/Ascl1a-like
InterProIPR015660
Achaete-scute complex protein T5
Identifiers
OrganismDrosophila melanogaster
Symbolac
UniProtP10083
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StructuresSwiss-model
DomainsInterPro
Achaete-scute complex protein T4
Identifiers
OrganismDrosophila melanogaster
Symbolsc
UniProtP10084
Search for
StructuresSwiss-model
DomainsInterPro
Achaete-scute complex protein T3
Identifiers
OrganismDrosophila melanogaster
Symboll(1)sc
UniProtP09774
Search for
StructuresSwiss-model
DomainsInterPro
Achaete-scute complex protein T8
Identifiers
OrganismDrosophila melanogaster
Symbolase
UniProtP09775
Search for
StructuresSwiss-model
DomainsInterPro

Genes of the AS-C interact with the Notch pathway in both their proneural functions as well as their specification of gut and muscle cells.[1]

Genetic structure

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The complex is found near the tip of the X chromosome, just 3' of yellow, in chromosome bands 1A6 through 1B3. It occupies around 93 kb of the genome, with all four genes oriented in the same direction.

achaete

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The 5′-most gene of the achaete-scute complex, achaete (short form ac), is a small gene of less than 1000 bp. The Achaete protein is 201 amino acids long and has a relative size of 23 kDa.[3] As with most classically described Drosophila genes, achaete is named for its mutant phenotype, which is the lack of sensory hairs (macrochaetae and microchaetae) on the back of the adult fly. Achaete functions to specify sensory hair cell fate. It functions downstream of other genes, including hairy and extramacrochaete, that set up fields of cells that may express achaete.

scute

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Scute (short form sc) is found in about 25 kb (3)′ of achaete. It is a 1.45 kb gene encoding a 345 aa protein of 38.2 kDa.[4]

lethal or scute

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lethal or scute (short form l(1)sc) is found about 12 kb 3′ of scute. It is a 1.1 kb gene encoding a 257 aa protein of 29 kDa.[5]

asense

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asense (short form ase) found 45 kb 3′ of l(1)sc. It is a 2.8 kb gene encoding a 486 aa protein of 53.2 kDa.[6]

See also

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  • ASCL1 :- Achaete-scute homolog 1
  • ASCL2 :- Achaete-scute homolog 2

References

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  1. ^ a b c García-Bellido A, de Celis JF (July 2009). "The complex tale of the achaete-scute complex: a paradigmatic case in the analysis of gene organization and function during development". Genetics. 182 (3): 631–9. doi:10.1534/genetics.109.104083. PMC 2710146. PMID 19622761.
  2. ^ "Achaete-scute complex". Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  3. ^ "FlyBase achaete report". Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  4. ^ "FlyBase scute report". Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  5. ^ "FlyBase lethal of scute report". Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  6. ^ "FlyBase asense report". Retrieved 2009-11-29.