The DNA-binding polycomb group protein pleiohomeotic mediates silencing of a Drosophila homeotic gene.
Polycomb group (PcG) proteins repress homeotic genes in cells where these genes must remain inactive during development. This repression requires cis-acting silencers, also called PcG response elements. Currently, these silencers are ill-defined sequences and it is not known how PcG proteins associate with DNA. Here, we show that the Drosophila PcG protein Pleiohomeotic binds to specific sites in a silencer of the homeotic gene Ultrabithorax. In an Ultrabithorax reporter gene, point mutations in these Pleiohomeotic binding sites abolish PcG repression in vivo. Hence, DNA-bound Pleiohomeotic protein may function in the recruitment of other non-DNA-binding PcG proteins to homeotic gene silencers.
Fritsch
C
C
Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Spemannstrasse 35/III, Tübingen, Germany.
Brown
J L
JL
Kassis
J A
JA
Müller
J
J
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D020868:Gene Silencing; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D017344:Genes, Insect; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D007763:Lac Operon; D017354:Point Mutation; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors
D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C066177:Ubx protein, Drosophila; C113295:pho protein, Drosophila