Comparison of the structure and embryonic expression of Delta in Drosophila virilis and D. melanogaster.

The Drosophila virilis Delta (Dl) gene was localized and cloned. Sequencing and sequence analysis of its 3′ fragment revealed a 83% homology between its deduced product and D. melanogaster Delta. Northern hybridization revealed four major transcripts of D. virilis Dl. In situ hybridization to whole embryos showed that the temporal and spatial Dl expression patterns are much the same in D. virilis and D. melanogaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]