title: The Drosophila daughterless gene autoregulates and is controlled by both positive and negative cis regulation.
abstract: As the only class I helix-loop-helix transcription factor in Drosophila, Daughterless (Da) has generally been regarded as a ubiquitously expressed binding partner for other developmentally regulated bHLH transcription factors. From analysis of a novel tissue-specific allele, da(lyh), we show that da expression is not constitutive, but is dynamically regulated. This transcriptional regulation includes somatic ovary-specific activation, autoregulation and negative regulation. Unexpectedly, the diverse functions of da may require that expression levels be tightly controlled in a cell and/or tissue-specific manner. Our analysis of da(lyh) identifies it as the first springer insertion that functions as an insulating element, with its disruptive activity mediated by the product of a fourth chromosome gene, Suppressor of lyh [Su(lyh)].
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Gilmer Hall, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400328, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4328, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cronmiller
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017344:Genes, Insect; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs / Q000235:genetics; D006706:Homeostasis; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; C090080:Da protein, Drosophila