A Drosophila E(spl) gene is "neurogenic" in Xenopus: A green fluorescent protein study

Abstract

A Drosophila Enhancer of split [E(spl)] bHLH protein, mδ, was misexpressed in Xenopus embryos along with green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a lineage label. The Drosophila protein translocated to the nucleus of Xenopus cells and led to neural hypertrophy in the GFP-labeled dorsal ectoderm, a phenotype similar to that caused by the misexpression of activated Xotch. Our data indicate a strong conservation in E(spl)bHLH function in the Notch signaling pathway of flies and vertebrates. © 1995 Academic Press, Inc.