ArticlePLoS genetics2005
Drosophila tan encodes a novel hydrolase required in pigmentation and vision.
Article in PLoS genetics, 2005. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 93 papers.
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93 citing papers in PubMed, 187 citations in OpenAlex.
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- The H3K79me3 methyl-transferase Grappa is involved in the establishment and thermal plasticity of abdominal pigmentation in Drosophila melanogaster females.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- A niche-derived non-ribosomal peptide triggers planarian sexual development.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2023Article
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- Regulation and modulation of biogenic amine neurotransmission inFrontiers in physiology · 2023Review
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- Evolved Transcriptional Responses and Their Trade-Offs after Long-Term Adaptation of Bemisia tabaci to a Marginally Suitable Host.Genome biology and evolution · 2022Article
33 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
Many proteins are used repeatedly in development, but usually the function of the protein is similar in the different contexts. Here we report that the classical Drosophila melanogaster locus tan encodes a novel enzyme required for two very different cellular functions: hydrolysis of N-beta-alanyl dopamine (NBAD) to dopamine during cuticular melanization, and hydrolysis of carcinine to histamine in the metabolism of photoreceptor neurotransmitter. We characterized two tan-like P-element insertions that failed to complement classical tan mutations. Both are inserted in the 5' untranslated region of the previously uncharacterized gene CG12120, a putative homolog of fungal isopenicillin-N N-acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.164). Both P insertions showed abnormally low transcription of the CG12120 mRNA. Ectopic CG12120 expression rescued tan mutant pigmentation phenotypes and caused the production of striking black melanin patterns. Electroretinogram and head histamine assays indicated that CG12120 is required for hydrolysis of carcinine to histamine, which is required for histaminergic neurotransmission. Recombinant CG12120 protein efficiently hydrolyzed both NBAD to dopamine and carcinine to histamine. We conclude that D. melanogaster CG12120 corresponds to tan. This is, to our knowledge, the first molecular genetic characterization of NBAD hydrolase and carcinine hydrolase activity in any organism and is central to the understanding of pigmentation and photoreceptor function.
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