Initiation of dosage compensation in Drosophila embryos depends on expression of the roX RNAs.
The roX1 and roX2 genes of Drosophila produce non-coding transcripts that localize to the X-chromosome. In spite of their lack of sequence similarity, they are redundant components of an RNA/protein complex that up-regulates the male X-chromosome, contributing to the equalization of X-linked gene expression between males and females. roX1 is detected at 2 h AEL, prior to formation of the complex, and is present in both sexes. Maternally provided MLE (Maleless) is required for roX1 stability. By contrast, roX2 is male-specific and is first observed at 6 h. Either roX transcript can support X-localization of the complex, but localization is delayed in roX1 mutants until roX2 expression. These results support a model for the ordered assembly of the complex in embryos.
Meller
Victoria H
VH
Department of Biology, 120 Dana Hall, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA. victoria.meller@tufts.edu
D000818:Animals; D004303:Dosage Compensation, Genetic; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C092595:Pabp2 protein, Drosophila; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C454144:roX1 protein, Drosophila