The fat tumor suppressor gene in Drosophila encodes a novel member of the cadherin gene superfamily

摘要: Recessive lethal mutations in the fat locus of Drosophila cause hyperplastic, tumor-like overgrowth larval imaginal discs, defects differentiation and morphogenesis, death during pupal stage. Clones mutant cells induced by mitotic recombination demonstrate that phenotype is cell autonomous. Here we show encodes a novel member cadherin gene superfamily: an enormous transmembrane protein over 5000 amino acids with putative signal sequence, 34 tandem domains, four EGF-like repeats, domain, cytoplasmic domain. Two recessive alleles contain alterations coding dominant allele, Gull, contains insertion transposable element 33rd Thus, this superfamily functions as tumor suppressor required for correct morphogenesis.