摘要
Basic helix-loop-helix （bHLH） transcription factors regulate the differentiation of various tissues in a vast diversity of species. The bHLH protein Atonal was first identified as a proneural gene involved in the formation of mechanosensory cells and photoreceptor cells in Drosophila （larman et al., 1993, 1994）. Atonal is expressed in sensory organ precursors and is required and sufficient for the development of chordotonal organs （Jar- man et al., 1993）. Moreover, Atonal expression is observed in the developing eye and is essential for the differentiation of R8 photoreceptors, which are the first photoreceptors that appear during development. Atonal is not involved in the formation of other photoreceptors （R1-R7） directly. However, R8 photore- ceptors recruit other photoreceptors from the surrounding cells （Jarman et al., 1994）.
Basic helix-loop-helix （bHLH） transcription factors regulate the differentiation of various tissues in a vast diversity of species. The bHLH protein Atonal was first identified as a proneural gene involved in the formation of mechanosensory cells and photoreceptor cells in Drosophila （larman et al., 1993, 1994）. Atonal is expressed in sensory organ precursors and is required and sufficient for the development of chordotonal organs （Jar- man et al., 1993）. Moreover, Atonal expression is observed in the developing eye and is essential for the differentiation of R8 photoreceptors, which are the first photoreceptors that appear during development. Atonal is not involved in the formation of other photoreceptors （R1-R7） directly. However, R8 photore- ceptors recruit other photoreceptors from the surrounding cells （Jarman et al., 1994）.
基金
supported by grants from the Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology in Japan and Naito Foundation to TC
the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science to MO and TC
