Homeobox Genes DataBase

Drosophila/Vertebrate Genes in Development:

Gap, Pair-rule and Segment Polarity

sloppy-paired

Definition:

Two closely linked genes, sloppy paired 1 and 2, share the combined characteristics of gap, pair rule and segment polarity genes. Because slp2 is dispensible, particularly in the head, slp1 will be the major concern in this discussion, and will be referred to as sloppy paired (slp).

Function:

The two genes are first expressed in the head where they act like gap genes, but their action in the trunk is more like pair rule and segment polarity genes.

In the trunk, sloppy paired is expressed in the posterior cells of each parasegment, acting like a segment polarity gene. This expression abuts cells expressing engrailed. Sloppy paired activates wingless and represses engrailed. This function is critical for the sharp boundary of expression between en and wg (Cadigan, 1994a).