title: batman Interacts with polycomb and trithorax group genes and encodes a BTB/POZ protein that is included in a complex containing GAGA factor.
abstract: Polycomb and trithorax group genes maintain the appropriate repressed or activated state of homeotic gene expression throughout Drosophila melanogaster development. We have previously identified the batman gene as a Polycomb group candidate since its function is necessary for the repression of Sex combs reduced. However, our present genetic analysis indicates functions of batman in both activation and repression of homeotic genes. The 127-amino-acid Batman protein is almost reduced to a BTB/POZ domain, an evolutionary conserved protein-protein interaction domain found in a large protein family. We show that this domain is involved in the interaction between Batman and the DNA binding GAGA factor encoded by the Trithorax-like gene. The GAGA factor and Batman codistribute on polytene chromosomes, coimmunoprecipitate from nuclear embryonic and larval extracts, and interact in the yeast two-hybrid assay. Batman, together with the GAGA factor, binds to MHS-70, a 70-bp fragment of the bithoraxoid Polycomb response element. This binding, like that of the GAGA factor, requires the presence of d(GA)n sequences. Together, our results suggest that batman belongs to a subset of the Polycomb/trithorax group of genes that includes Trithorax-like, whose products are involved in both activation and repression of homeotic genes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Embryologie Moléculaire et Expérimentale, Chromatine et Développement, CNRS ESA 8080, Université Paris Sud, Orsay, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faucheux
authors.forename: J-Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Roignant
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Netter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Charollais
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antoniewski
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Théodore
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020218:Response Elements / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C402243:ABTB1 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C066770:Pc protein, Drosophila; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C063460:Trl protein, Drosophila; C471547:lolal protein, Drosophila; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1