Bioassaying putative RNA-binding motifs in a protein encoded by a gene that influences courtship and visually mediated behavior in Drosophila: in vitro mutagenesis of nonA.

Stanewsky R, Fry TA, Reim I, Saumweber H, Hall JC (1996)


Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 1996

Journal

Book Volume: 143

Pages Range: 259-75

Journal Issue: 1

Abstract

The no-on-transient-A (nonA) gene of Drosophila melanogaster influences vision, courtship song, and viability. The nonA-encoded polypeptide is inferred to bind single-stranded nucleic acids. Although sequence-analysis of NONA implies that it belongs to a special interspecific family of this protein type, it does contain two classical RNA recognition motifs (RRM). Their behavioral significance was assayed by generating transgenic strains that were singly or multiply mutated within the relatively N-terminal motif (RRM1) or within RRM2. Neither class of mutation affected NONA binding to polytene chromosomes. The former mutations led to extremely low viability, accompanied by diminished adult longevities that were much worse than for a nonA-null mutant, implying that faulty interpolypeptide interactions might accompany the effects of the amino-acid substitutions within RRM1. All in vitro-mutated types caused optomotor blindness and an absence of transient spikes in the electroretinogram. Courtship analysis discriminated between the effects of the mutations: the RRM2-mutated type generated song pulses and trains that tended to be mildly mutant. These phenotypic abnormalities reinforce the notion that nonA's ubiquitous expression has its most important consequences in the optic lobes, the thoracic ganglia, or both, depending in part on the nonA allele.

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How to cite

APA:

Stanewsky, R., Fry, T.A., Reim, I., Saumweber, H., & Hall, J.C. (1996). Bioassaying putative RNA-binding motifs in a protein encoded by a gene that influences courtship and visually mediated behavior in Drosophila: in vitro mutagenesis of nonA. Genetics, 143(1), 259-75.

MLA:

Stanewsky, Ralf, et al. "Bioassaying putative RNA-binding motifs in a protein encoded by a gene that influences courtship and visually mediated behavior in Drosophila: in vitro mutagenesis of nonA." Genetics 143.1 (1996): 259-75.

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