title: The BEAF insulator regulates genes involved in cell polarity and neoplastic growth.
abstract: Boundary Element Associated Factor-32 (BEAF-32) is an insulator protein predominantly found near gene promoters and thought to play a role in gene expression. We find that mutations in BEAF-32 are lethal, show loss of epithelial morphology in imaginal discs and cause neoplastic growth defects. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenotype, we carried out a genome-wide analysis of BEAF-32 localization in wing imaginal disc cells. Mutation of BEAF-32 results in miss-regulation of 3850 genes by at least 1.5-fold, 794 of which are bound by this protein in wing imaginal cells. Up-regulated genes encode proteins involved in cell polarity, cell proliferation and cell differentiation. Among the down-regulated genes are those encoding components of the wingless pathway, which is required for cell differentiation. Miss-regulation of these genes explains the unregulated cell growth and neoplastic phenotypes observed in imaginal tissues of BEAF-32 mutants.
authors: Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
authors: B V
authors: BV
authors: Gurudatta
authors: Edward
authors: E
authors: Ramos
authors: Victor G
authors: VG
authors: Corces
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D017344:Genes, Insect / Q000235:genetics*; D060227:Imaginal Discs / Q000378:metabolism; D038101:Insulator Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D024363:Transcription Initiation Site; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C452919:BEAF-32 protein, Drosophila; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins