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Abstract
The modular Gal4 system has proven to be an extremely useful tool for conditional
gene expression in Drosophila. One limitation has been the inability of the system
to work in the female germline. A modified Gal4 system that works throughout oogenesis
is presented here. To achieve germline expression, it was critical to change the basal
promoter and 3'-UTR in the Gal4-responsive expression vector (generating UASp). Basal
promoters and heterologous 3'-UTRs are often considered neutral, but as shown here,
can endow qualitative tissue-specificity to a chimeric transcript. The modified Gal4
system was used to investigate the role of the Drosophila FGF homologue branchless,
ligand for the FGF receptor breathless, in border cell migration. FGF signaling guides
tracheal cell migration in the embryo. However, misexpression of branchless in the
ovary had no effect on border cell migration. Thus border cells and tracheal cells
appear to be guided differently.
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