@article{fulkerson_estes_2011, title={Common motifs shared by conserved enhancers of Drosophila midline glial genes}, volume={316B}, ISSN={1552-5007}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jez.b.21382}, DOI={10.1002/jez.b.21382}, abstractNote={AbstractCoding sequences are usually the most highly conserved sectors of DNA, but genomic regions controlling the expression pattern of certain genes can also be conserved across diverse species. In this study, we identify five enhancers capable of activating transcription in the midline glia of Drosophila melanogaster and each contains sequences conserved across at least 11 Drosophila species. In addition, the conserved sequences contain reiterated motifs for binding sites of the known midline transcriptional activators, Single‐minded, Tango, Dichaete, and Pointed. To understand the molecular basis for the highly conserved genomic subregions within enhancers of the midline genes, we tested the ability of various motifs to affect midline expression, both individually and in combination, within synthetic reporter constructs. Multiple copies of the binding site for the midline regulators Single‐minded and Tango can drive expression in midline cells; however, small changes to the sequences flanking this transcription factor binding site can inactivate expression in midline cells and activate expression in tracheal cells instead. For the midline genes described in this study, the highly conserved sequences appear to juxtapose positive and negative regulatory factors in a configuration that activates genes specifically in the midline glia, while maintaining them inactive in other tissues, including midline neurons and tracheal cells. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 316:61–75, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.}, number={1}, journal={Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Fulkerson, Eric and Estes, Patricia Ann}, year={2011}, month={Jan}, pages={61–75} }
 @article{kearney_wheeler_estes_parente_crews_2004, title={Gene expression profiling of the developing Drosophila CNS midline cells}, volume={275}, ISSN={0012-1606}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2004.08.047}, DOI={10.1016/j.ydbio.2004.08.047}, abstractNote={The Drosophila CNS midline cells constitute a specialized set of interneurons, motorneurons, and glia. The utility of the CNS midline cells as a neurogenomic system to study CNS development derives from the ability to easily identify CNS midline-expressed genes. For this study, we used a variety of sources to identify 281 putative midline-expressed genes, including enhancer trap lines, microarray data, published accounts, and the Berkeley Drosophila Genome Project (BDGP) gene expression data. For each gene, we analyzed expression at all stages of embryonic CNS development and categorized expression patterns with regard to specific midline cell types. Of the 281 candidates, we identified 224 midline-expressed genes, which include transcription factors, signaling proteins, and transposable elements. We find that 58 genes are expressed in mesectodermal precursor cells, 138 in midline primordium cells, and 143 in mature midline cells--50 in midline glia, 106 in midline neurons. Additionally, we identified 27 genes expressed in glial and mesodermal cells associated with the midline cells. This work provides the basis for future research that will generate a complete cellular and molecular map of CNS midline development, thus allowing for detailed genetic and molecular studies of neuronal and glial development and function.}, number={2}, journal={Developmental Biology}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Kearney, Joseph B. and Wheeler, Scott R. and Estes, Patricia and Parente, Beth and Crews, Stephen T.}, year={2004}, month={Nov}, pages={473–492} }