Antennapedia

Homeotic protein antennapedia
Identifiers
OrganismDrosophila melanogaster
Symbolantp
UniProtP02833
Search for
StructuresSwiss-model
DomainsInterPro
The mutation Antennapedia
The two Hox gene complexes in fruit flies

Antennapedia (abbreviated Antp) is a Hox gene first discovered in Drosophila which controls the formation of legs during development. Loss-of-function mutations in the regulatory region of this gene result in the development of the second leg pair into ectopic antennae. By contrast gain-of-function alleles convert antennae into ectopic legs.[1]

This is just one illustration of the tendency of organisms to exhibit variations on a theme: modulated repetition. Legs and antennae are related to one another as much as molars are to incisors, fingers are to toes, and arms are to legs.

Antp also refers to a gene complex (ANT-C) in Drosophila ending with the Antp gene. It is responsible for formation and differentiation of the thoracic and head segments of the fly's body.

  1. ^ Schneuwly S, Klemenz R, Gehring WJ (1987). "Redesigning the body plan of Drosophila by ectopic expression of the homoeotic gene Antennapedia". Nature. 325 (6107): 816–8. Bibcode:1987Natur.325..816S. doi:10.1038/325816a0. PMID 3821869. S2CID 4320668.