Transvection in Drosophila.
Pairing-dependent interallelic complementation was first described for the Ultrabithorax gene of the bithorax-complex in Drosophila by Lewis and cited as an example of a new phenomenon that Lewis called the "trans-vection effect." Several different kinds of pairing-dependent gene expression have been observed in Drosophila, and it is now clear that a variety of different molecular mechanisms probably underlie the changes in gene expression that are observed after disrupting chromosome pairing. Transvection in the bithorax-complex appears to result from the ability of cis-regulatory elements to regulate transcription of the promoter on the homologous chromosome. The same phenomenon appears to be responsible for pairing-dependent interallelic complementation at numerous other genes in Drosophila. Some transvection effects are dependent on the presence of wild-type or specific mutant forms of the protein encoded by the zeste trans-regulatory gene, but other transvection effects are zeste-independent. The ease with which chromosome aberrations can disrupt transvection also varies widely among different genes.
Kennison
James A
JA
Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. Jim-Kennison@nih.gov
Southworth
Jeffrey W
JW
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D023902:Chromosome Pairing; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D020868:Gene Silencing; D017344:Genes, Insect; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C092937:ci protein, Drosophila; C060849:z protein, Drosophila