Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of extra macrochaetae during Drosophila adult peripheral neurogenesis

Regulation of the Drosophila ID protein Extra macrochaetae (Emc) is important because reduced Emc levels have been proposed to favor proneural gene activity and thereby define a prepattern for neurogenesis. Recent studies suggest a major role for post-translational control of Emc levels. To further define the mechanisms of Emc regulation, we identified two redundant cis-regulatory regions by germline transformation-rescue experiments that make use of new molecularly-defined emc mutants. We distinguished the mechanisms by which Daughterless (Da) regulated Emc expression, finding post-translational regulation in most tissues, and additional transcriptional regulation in the eye imaginal disc posterior to the morphogenetic furrow. Dpp and Hh signaling pathways repressed Emc transcriptionally and post-translationally within the morphogenetic furrow of the eye disc, whereas Wg signaling repressed Emc expression at the anterior margin of the wing imaginal disc. Although the emc 3′ UTR is potentially regulatory, no effect of miRNA pathways on Emc protein levels was discernible. Our work supports recent evidence that post-transcriptional mechanisms contribute more to regulation of Emc protein levels than transcriptional mechanisms do.