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Molecular Characterization Of Cephalothorax, The Tribolium Ortholog Of Sex Combs Reduced, Carmelle D. Curtis, Jennifer A. Brisson, Mark A. Decamillis, Teresa D. Shippy, Susan J. Brown, Robin E. Denell

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Sex combs reduced (Scr), a Hox gene located in the Antennapedia complex of Drosophila melanogaster, is required for the proper development of the labial and first thoracic segments. The Tribolium castaneum genetically defined locus Cephalothorax (Cx) is a candidate Scr ortholog based on the location of Cx in the beetle Homeotic complex and mutant effects on the labial and first thoracic segments. To address this hypothesis, we have cloned and characterized the Tribolium ortholog of Scr (TcScr). The transcription unit is less complex and encodes a smaller protein than Scr. The predicted …