title: Transcription activates repressed domains in the Drosophila bithorax complex.
abstract: A series of mutations have been recovered in the bithorax complex of D. melanogaster that transform the first segment of the abdomen into a copy of the second or third abdominal segment. These dominant Ultraabdominal alleles are all associated with P element insertions which are transcribed in the first abdominal segment. The transcripts proceed past the end of the P element for up to 50 kb, extending through the regulatory regions for the second and third abdominal segments. Blocking transcription from the P element promoter reverts the mutant phenotype. Previously identified Ultraabdominal alleles, not associated with P elements, also show abnormal transcription of the same region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Welcome
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D017344:Genes, Insect; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D005810:Multigene Family; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D012313:RNA