The Lawc protein is required for proper transcription by RNA polymerase II in Drosophila.
Genetic analysis of the Drosophila leg-arista-wing complex (lawc) gene suggests a role for the Lawc protein in chromatin-related processes based on its classification as a trxG gene but the molecular mechanisms of its function remain elusive. We have found that Lawc is a small, cysteine-rich protein that is present in most of the interbands of polytene chromosomes. In agreement with this observation, Lawc co-localizes with RNA polymerase IIo (Pol IIo) and it is recruited to transcribed loci after elongation by Pol IIo has begun. Lawc interacts with the nuclear proteasome regulator dREGgamma in a yeast two-hybrid assay and both proteins co-localize on polytene chromosomes. In addition, a mutation in lawc interacts genetically with a mutation in a component of the proteasome. lawc mutants show decreased expression of some genes, while the levels of Pol IIoSer2 increase. We conclude that Lawc is required for proper transcription by RNA polymerase II in a process that involves the nuclear proteasome.
Brandt
Tracy
T
Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
Corces
Victor G
VG
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D035341:Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2 / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C509085:TRF2 protein, Drosophila; D035341:Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2; D012319:RNA Polymerase II; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex