The dominance of the diploid state in higher organisms, with haploidy generally confined to the gametic phase, has led to the perception that diploidy is favored by selection. This view is highlighted by the fact that no known female organism within the Metazoa exists exclusively in a haploid state.
We found a group of 6 related Drosophila proteins, named ADGF-A,-A2,-B,-C,-D,-E, similar to the enzyme adenosine deaminase. ADGFs have strong adenosine deaminase activity and they are also involved in the regulation of mitosis.
Insect science cannot advance without genetic manipulations that would provide causal evidence of gene function. We report heritable germline transformation of the silkmoth Bombyx mori with the piggyBac transposon.
During gene activation, coactivators mediate the effect of DNA-binding transcription factors to RNA polymerase. Although coactivators are important for transcription, their in vivo roles are poorly understood. We show that an evolutionarily conserved but unique coactivator MBF1 cooperates with a bZIP transcription factor TDF (Tracheae defective) during the formation of the tracheal and nervous...
