CF2 activity and enhancer integration are required for proper muscle gene expression in Drosophila.
The creation of the contractile apparatus in muscle involves the co-activation of a group of genes encoding muscle-specific proteins and the production of high levels of protein in a short period of time. We have studied the transcriptional control of six Drosophila muscle genes that have similar expression profiles and we have compared these mechanisms with those employed to control the distinct expression profiles of other Drosophila genes. The regulatory elements controlling the transcription of co-expressed muscle genes share an Upstream Regulatory Element and an Intronic Regulatory Element. Moreover, similar clusters of MEF2 and CF2 binding sites are present in these elements. Here, we demonstrate that CF2 depletion alters the relative expression of thin and thick filament components. We propose that the appropriate rapid gene expression responses during muscle formation and the maintenance of each muscle type is guaranteed in Drosophila by equivalent duplicate enhancer-like elements. This mechanism may be exceptional and restricted to muscle genes, reflecting the specific requirement to mediate rapid muscle responses. However, it may also be a more general mechanism to control the correct levels of gene expression during development in each cell type.
García-Zaragoza
Elena
E
Instituto Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols, Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, UAM-CSIC, Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
Mas
José Antonio
JA
Vivar
Jorge
J
Arredondo
Juan J
JJ
Cervera
Margarita
M
D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D024510:Muscle Development / Q000502:physiology; D009218:Myosins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D014335:Tropomyosin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C490776:Tm1 protein, Drosophila; C097163:Tm2 protein, Drosophila; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014335:Tropomyosin; C076904:Cf2 protein, Drosophila; D009218:Myosins