Transcriptional network controlled by the trithorax-group gene ash2 in Drosophila melanogaster.
The transcription factor absent, small, or homeotic discs 2 (ash2) gene is a member of the trithorax group of positive regulators of homeotic genes. Mutant alleles for ash2 are larvalpupal lethals and display imaginal disc and brain abnormalities. The allele used in this study is a true mutant for the trithorax function and lacks the longest transcript present in wild-type flies. In an attempt to identify gene targets of ash2, we have performed an expression analysis by using cDNA microarrays. Genes involved in cell cycle, cell proliferation, and cell adhesion are among these targets, and some of them are validated by functional and expression studies. Even though trithorax proteins act by modulating chromatin structure at particular chromosomal locations, evidence of physical aggregation of ash2-regulated genes has not been found. This work represents the first microarray analysis, to our knowledge, of a trithorax-group gene.
Beltran
Sergi
S
Departament de Genètica, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Blanco
Enrique
E
Serras
Florenci
F
Pérez-Villamil
Beatriz
B
Guigó
Roderic
R
Artavanis-Tsakonas
Spyros
S
Corominas
Montserrat
M
D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D017344:Genes, Insect; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C103604:ash2 protein, Drosophila