title: Mesoderm-determining transcription in Drosophila is alleviated by mutations in TAF(II)60 and TAF(II)110.
abstract: In Drosophila, a coordinate interplay between the Rel transcription factor Dorsal and the basic Helix-Loop-Helix transcription factor Twist initiates mesoderm formation by activating the zygotic expression of mesoderm-determining genes. Here, we show that TBP-associated-factors (TAF(II)s) within the basal transcription factor TFIID mediate transcriptional activation by Dorsal and Twist. Dorsal interacts with TAF(II)110 and TAF(II)60, while Twist contacts TAF(II)110. The TAF(II):activator interactions mediate simple and synergistic transactivation by Dorsal and Twist in vitro. Mutations in TAF(II)60 or TAF(II)110 alleviate the transcription of Dorsal and Twist target genes. Gene dosage assays imply that an interplay of Dorsal and Twist with TAF(II)110 is critically required for the activation of mesoderm-determining gene expression in the Drosophila embryo. The results provide evidence that TAF(II)-subunits within the TFIID complex play an important role during the molecular events leading to initiation of mesoderm formation in Drosophila.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sauer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002474:Cell-Free System; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D018628:Gene Dosage; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D035381:TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D019473:Transcription Factors, TFII / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D035381:TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors; C103338:Taf4 protein, Drosophila; C084976:Taf6 protein, Drosophila; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D014157:Transcription Factors; D019473:Transcription Factors, TFII; C497753:Twi protein, Drosophila; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1; C062236:dl protein, Drosophila; C000604451:sna protein, Drosophila; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; C069001:TATA-binding protein associated factor 250 kDa