achaete-scute complex

{{Short description|Drosophila melanogaster genes}}

{{DISPLAYTITLE:achaete-scute complex}}

{{Infobox protein family

|Name=Achaete-scute-related

|Symbol=MASH1/Ascl1a-like

|InterPro=IPR015660

}}

{{Infobox nonhuman protein

|UniProt=P10083

|Organism=Drosophila melanogaster

|Name=Achaete-scute complex protein T5

|Symbol=ac}}

{{Infobox nonhuman protein

|UniProt=P10084

|Organism=Drosophila melanogaster

|Name=Achaete-scute complex protein T4

|Symbol=sc}}

{{Infobox nonhuman protein

|UniProt=P09774

|Organism=Drosophila melanogaster

|Name=Achaete-scute complex protein T3

|Symbol=l(1)sc}}

{{Infobox nonhuman protein

|UniProt=P09775

|Organism=Drosophila melanogaster

|Name=Achaete-scute complex protein T8

|Symbol=ase}}

The achaete-scute complex (AS-C) is a group of four genes (achaete, scute, lethal of scute, and asense) in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. These genes encode basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors that have been best studied in their regulation of nervous system development.{{cite journal | vauthors = García-Bellido A, de Celis JF | title = The complex tale of the achaete-scute complex: a paradigmatic case in the analysis of gene organization and function during development | journal = Genetics | volume = 182 | issue = 3 | pages = 631–9 | date = July 2009 | pmid = 19622761 | pmc = 2710146 | doi = 10.1534/genetics.109.104083 }}{{cite web|title=Achaete-scute complex|url=http://www.sdbonline.org/fly/aignfam/neuropro.htm#dafka1 |access-date=2009-11-29 }} Because of their role in specifying neuroblast fate, the genes of the AS-C are called proneural genes. However, the AS-C has non-proneural functions, such as specifying muscle and gut progenitors. Homologues of AS-C in other animals, including humans and other vertebrates, have similar functions.

Genes of the AS-C interact with the Notch pathway in both their proneural functions as well as their specification of gut and muscle cells.