The Drosophila melanogaster suppressor of Hairy-wing protein binds to specific sequences of the gypsy retrotransposon.
Mutations at the suppressor of Hairy-wing [su(Hw), 3-54.8] locus reverse the phenotype of second-site mutations induced by the gypsy transposable element in Drosophila melanogaster. This gene encodes a protein with a predicted molecular weight of 109,000 that contains an acidic domain and 12 copies of the DNA-binding 'Zn finger' motif. The su(Hw) protein was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and Drosophila cells, and partially purified. It was shown to interact specifically in vitro with a 367-bp DNA fragment that contains 12 copies of the sequence PyPuTTGCATACCPy located in the 5'-untranslated region of gypsy, between the 5' long terminal repeat (LTR) and the first ATG initiation codon. This sequence shows striking homology to some mammalian transcriptional enhancer elements, supporting a role for the su(Hw) protein in the control of gypsy transcription. In addition, the su(Hw) protein is present at approximately 100-200 sites on Drosophila polytene chromosomes, suggesting that it also interacts in vivo with DNA and might be involved functionally in the regulation of normal cellular genes.
Spana
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Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218.
Harrison
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D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010957:Plasmids; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013489:Suppression, Genetic
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I