Regulation of the sex-specific binding of the maleless dosage compensation protein to the male X chromosome in Drosophila.
In Drosophila, the single male X chromosome is transcribed at twice the rate of a single female X chromosome. This hypertranscription requires the functions of at least four autosomal male-specific lethal genes (msls) and is under the control of the Sex-lethal (Sxl) gene. One of the msls, the maleless (mle) gene, encodes a protein that is associated with the male X chromosome. To investigate how dosage compensation is regulated, we have determined whether Sxl and the other msls are required for mle X chromosome binding. We have found that in females, Sxl functions to prevent mle from binding to the two X chromosomes. Additionally, we have found that mle X chromosome binding requires wild-type msl1, msl2, and msl3 functions. These data support a model whereby the activity of the mle protein is regulated through its association with one or more of the other msl proteins.
Gorman
M
M
Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, California 94305.
Kuroda
M I
MI
Baker
B S
BS
D000818:Animals; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004265:DNA Helicases; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004303:Dosage Compensation, Genetic; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006720:Homozygote; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014960:X Chromosome
D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C067777:Sxl protein, Drosophila; D014157:Transcription Factors; C070837:mle protein, Drosophila; D004265:DNA Helicases