The BEAF-32 insulator coordinates genome organization and function during the evolution of Drosophila species.
Understanding the relationship between genome organization and expression is central to understanding genome function. Closely apposed genes in a head-to-head orientation share the same upstream region and are likely to be coregulated. Here we identify the Drosophila BEAF-32 insulator as a cis regulatory element separating close head-to-head genes with different transcription regulation modes. We then compare the binding landscapes of the BEAF-32 insulator protein in four different Drosophila genomes and highlight the evolutionarily conserved presence of this protein between close adjacent genes. We find that changes in binding of BEAF-32 to sites in the genome of different Drosophila species correlate with alterations in genome organization caused by DNA rearrangements or genome size expansion. The cross-talk between BEAF-32 genomic distribution and genome organization contributes to new gene-expression profiles, which in turn translate into specific and distinct phenotypes. The results suggest a mechanism for the establishment of differences in transcription patterns during evolution.
Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Jingping
J
Yang
Edward
E
Ramos
Victor G
VG
Corces
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D049750:Genome, Insect; D038101:Insulator Elements; D010641:Phenotype; D013045:Species Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
C452919:BEAF-32 protein, Drosophila; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins