The 35UZ transposon of Drosophila melanogaster reveals differences in maintenance of transcriptional control between embryonic and larval stages.
The D. melanogaster transposon P[35UZ] contains a lacZ reporter gene fused to 35 kb of Ubx upstream sequences which drive a Ubx-like expression in embryos and in metathoracic imaginal discs. Transposition of P[35UZ] followed by analysis of different lines in wild-type and mutant backgrounds allowed us to analyze the interplay between Ubx regulatory elements, including the Polycomb response element (PRE), located inside the transposon and cis-acting regulatory elements, located outside. We found that all lines show a Ubx-like beta-galactosidase expression pattern in the embryo, but proximity to strong imaginal enhancers can change this pattern drastically. These data illustrate how maintenance of gene expression depends on the chromosomal environment and on dynamic interactions between all developmentally regulated enhancers located close to a promoter under PcG control.
Centre de Génétique Moléculaire, CNRS Gif sur Yvette, France.
F
F
Docquier
N B
NB
Randsholt
J
J
Deutsch
P
P
Santamaria
D000818:Animals; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C066177:Ubx protein, Drosophila