title: The ecdysone receptor (ScEcR-A) binds DNA puffs at the start of DNA amplification in Sciara coprophila.
abstract: The steroid hormone ecdysone induces DNA amplification and subsequent DNA puff formation in late fourth larval instar salivary gland polytene chromosomes of the fungus fly, Sciara coprophila. Previous in vitro studies on DNA puff II/9A in Sciara demonstrated that the ecdysone receptor (ScEcR-A) efficiently binds an ecdysone response element adjacent to the origin recognition complex binding site within the II/9A amplification origin, implying a role for ScEcR-A in amplification. Here, we extrapolate the molecular details from locus II/9A to the rest of the genome using immunofluorescence with a ScEcR-A-specific antibody. ScEcR-A binds all DNA puff sites just as amplification begins and persists throughout the processes of amplification, transcription, and puffing. Ecdysone injections into pre-amplification stage larvae prematurely induce both DNA amplification and ScEcR-A binding to DNA puff sites. These data are consistent with a direct role for ScEcR-A in DNA amplification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Gerald M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Liew
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Foulk
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Gerbi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D059045:Chromosomal Puffs / Q000235:genetics*; D004261:DNA Replication; D004175:Diptera / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D004440:Ecdysone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D056426:Genetic Loci; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011987:Receptors, Steroid; C055469:ecdysone receptor; D004440:Ecdysone