Phylogenetic footprinting analysis in the upstream regulatory regions of the Drosophila enhancer of split genes.
During Drosophila development Suppressor of Hairless [Su(H)]-dependent Notch activation upregulates transcription of the Enhancer of split-Complex [E(spl)-C] genes. Drosophila melanogaster E(spl) genes share common transcription regulators including binding sites for Su(H), proneural, and E(spl) basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins. However, the expression patterns of E(spl) genes during development suggest that additional factors are involved. To better understand regulators responsible for these expression patterns, recently available sequence and annotation data for multiple Drosophila genomes were used to compare the E(spl) upstream regulatory regions from more than nine Drosophila species. The mgamma and mbeta regulatory regions are the most conserved of the bHLH genes. Fine analysis of Su(H) sites showed that high-affinity Su(H) paired sites and the Su(H) paired site plus proneural site (SPS + A) architecture are completely conserved in a subset of Drosophila E(spl) genes. The SPS + A module is also present in the upstream regulatory regions of the more ancient mosquito and honeybee E(spl) bHLH genes. Additional transcription factor binding sites were identified upstream of the E(spl) genes and compared between species of Drosophila. Conserved sites provide new understandings about E(spl) regulation during development. Conserved novel sequences found upstream of multiple E(spl) genes may play a role in the expression of these genes.
Department of Biology, Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut 06320, USA.
Morgan L
ML
Maeder
Benjamin J
BJ
Polansky
Bryanne E
BE
Robson
Deborah A
DA
Eastman
D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001516:Bees / Q000235:genetics; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018983:DNA Footprinting; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D017344:Genes, Insect; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004247:DNA; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C121960:E(spl)m7-HLH protein, Drosophila