Domina (Dom), a new Drosophila member of the FKH/WH gene family, affects morphogenesis and is a suppressor of position-effect variegation.
Domina (Dom) is a novel member of the FKH/WH transcription factor gene family of Drosophila. Two alternatively polyadenylated Dom transcripts of 2.9 and 3.9 kb encode a 719-amino-acid protein with a FKH/WH domain and a putative acidic transactivation domain. Dom is mainly expressed in the central and peripheral nervous system. Homozygous mutants show rough eyes, irregular arrangement of bristles, extended wings, defective posterior wing margins, and a severely diminished vitality and fertility. Heterozygous Dom flies are morphologically wild type but show suppression of position-effect variegation. Consistently with this chromatin effect DOM protein is accumulated in the chromocenter and, as expected from a transcription factor, is found at specific euchromatic loci. Sequence comparison suggests that DOM of Drosophila is homologous to the chordate WHN proteins. The chromatin modifying capability of DOM is probably based on the FKH/WH domain, which shows a remarkable structural similarity to the winged-helix structures of H1 and the central globular domain of H5.
Institut für Biologie, Genetik, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 7, D-14195, Berlin, Germany.
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D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / Q000196:embryology; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics; D011061:Poly A / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000196:embryology
D002843:Chromatin; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D011061:Poly A; D012313:RNA