Transcription factor NFY globally represses the expression of the C. elegans Hox gene Abdominal-B homolog egl-5.
The C. elegans Hox gene egl-5 (ortholog of Drosophila Abdominal-B) is expressed in multiple tissues in the tail region and is involved in tail patterning. In this study, we identify and clone the corresponding C. elegans orthologs of the components of the heterotrimeric transcription factor NFY, nfya-1, nfyb-1 and nfyc-1 and demonstrate that mutations in these components result in the ectopic expression of egl-5 outside of its normal expression domains. The NFYA-1 protein forms a complex with NFYB-1 and NFYC-1, specifically recognizing the CCAAT box. Mutating a CCAAT box in the proximal promoter of egl-5 also leads to the derepression of egl-5, suggesting a direct role for the NFY complex in the regulation of egl-5. In addition, we show that the NFY complex interacts with the MES-2/MES-6 PcG complex in Hox gene regulation. Thus, our studies unravel a physiological function of NFY in establishing the spatially restricted expression pattern of egl-5.
Deng
Hansong
H
Graduate Program in Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, PR China.
Sun
Yinyan
Y
Zhang
Yuxia
Y
Luo
Xin
X
Hou
Wenru
W
Yan
Libo
L
Chen
Yaoyao
Y
Tian
E
E
Han
Jinghua
J
Zhang
Hong
H
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001483:Base Sequence; D023081:CCAAT-Binding Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D049751:Genome, Helminth; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D023081:CCAAT-Binding Factor; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018509:DNA, Helminth; C477318:Egl-5 protein, C elegans; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C402244:nuclear factor Y