Mechanism of induction of Bar-like eye malformation by transient overexpression of Bar homeobox genes in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

The Bar locus of Drosophila is known to be a small complex consisting of two similar homeobox genes, BarH1 and BarH2. Using egr as an ommatidium marker, possible mechanisms of formation of malformed eyes were examined. As in the case of BarH1, overexpression of BarH2 was found to be capable of inducing Bar-like eye malformation. It was suggested that suppression of the anterior progression of the morphogenetic furrow and inhibition of reinitiation of normal ommatidial differentiation were mandatory to formation of the reduced eye morphology in Bar mutants.