The MSL complex: X chromosome and beyond.
X chromosomal regulation is a process that presents systematic problems of chromosome recognition and coordinated gene regulation. In Drosophila males, the ribonucleoprotein Male-Specific Lethal (MSL) complex plays an important role in hyperactivation of the X-linked genes to equalize gene dosage differences between the sexes. It appears that X chromosome recognition by the MSL complex may be mediated through a combination of sequence-specificity and transcriptional activities. The resulting transcriptional up-regulation also seems to involve several mechanisms, encompassing both gene-specific and chromosome-wide approaches. Interestingly the histone H4 lysine 16 specific MOF histone acetyl transferase, a key MSL member that hyper-acetylates the male X chromosome, is also involved in gene regulation beyond dosage compensation. A comparison of Drosophila and mammalian systems reveals intriguing parallels in MOF behavior, and highlights the multidisciplinary nature of this enzyme.
Laverty
Corey
C
Max-Planck-Institut für Immunbiologie, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
Lucci
Jacopo
J
Akhtar
Asifa
A
D000818:Animals; D004303:Dosage Compensation, Genetic; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D050172:Genes, X-Linked / Q000235:genetics*; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006657:Histones; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases