title: Functions of mammalian Polycomb group and trithorax group related genes.
abstract: Genes of the Polycomb and trithorax groups (PcG and trxG) are part of a cellular memory system that maintains inactive and active states of homeotic gene expression in Drosophila. Recent genetic evidence indicates that several related loci in mammals are also involved in the regulation of Hox genes. Like their Drosophila counterparts, the vertebrate gene products are components of multiprotein complexes that regulate transcriptional activation, repression and aspects of chromatin structure. Initial indications suggest the existence of a large mammalian PcG and trxG family, with a potential to encode multiple specialised functions in cell fate and cell-cycle control.
authors.affiliation: MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK. a-gould@nimr.mrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gould
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018816:Genes, cdc; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D006801:Humans; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D051788:Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; C497422:KMT2A protein, human; C066770:Pc protein, Drosophila; D014157:Transcription Factors; C063460:Trl protein, Drosophila; D051788:Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; C497423:Kmt2a protein, mouse; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1