The oxen gene of Drosophila encodes a homolog of subunit 9 of yeast ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase complex: evidence for modulation of gene expression in response to mitochondrial activity.
A P-element insertion in the oxen gene, ox(1), has been isolated in a search for modifiers of white gene expression. The mutation preferentially exerts a negative dosage effect upon the expression of three genes encoding ABC transporters involved in pigment precursor transport, white, brown, and scarlet. A precise excision of the P element reverts the mutant phenotype. Five different transcription units were identified around the insertion site. To distinguish a transcript responsible for the mutant phenotype, a set of deletions within the oxen region was generated. Analysis of gene expression within the oxen region in the case of deletions as well as generation of transgenic flies allowed us to identify the transcript responsible for oxen function. It encodes a 6.6-kD homolog of mitochondrial ubiquinol cytochrome c oxidoreductase (QCR9), subunit 9 of the bc(1) complex in yeast. In addition to white, brown, and scarlet, oxen regulates the expression of three of seven tested genes. Thus, our data provide additional evidence for a cellular response to changes in mitochondrial function. The oxen mutation provides a model for the genetic analysis in multicellular organisms of the effect of mitochondrial activity on nuclear gene expression.
Frolov
M V
MV
University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA.
Benevolenskaya
E V
EV
Birchler
J A
JA
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005127:Eye Color / Q000235:genetics; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D017344:Genes, Insect; D005838:Genotype; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011679:Pupa; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C059254:w protein, Drosophila; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III