Genetic interactions among scribbler, Atrophin and groucho in Drosophila uncover links in transcriptional repression.
In eukaryotes, the ability of DNA-binding proteins to act as transcriptional repressors often requires that they recruit accessory proteins, known as corepressors, which provide the activity responsible for silencing transcription. Several of these factors have been identified, including the Groucho (Gro) and Atrophin (Atro) proteins in Drosophila. Here we demonstrate strong genetic interactions between gro and Atro and also with mutations in a third gene, scribbler (sbb), which encodes a nuclear protein of unknown function. We show that mutations in Atro and Sbb have similar phenotypes, including upregulation of the same genes in imaginal discs, which suggests that Sbb cooperates with Atro to provide repressive activity. Comparison of gro and Atro/sbb mutant phenotypes suggests that they do not function together, but instead that they may interact with the same transcription factors, including Engrailed and C15, to provide these proteins with maximal repressive activity.
Wehn
Amy
A
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA.
Campbell
Gerard
G
D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005260:Female; D017344:Genes, Insect; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C079410:al protein, Drosophila; C091023:gro protein, Drosophila; C450826:gug protein, Drosophila; C412165:sbb protein, Drosophila