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Transcriptional silencing of homeotic genes in drosophila
Author(s) -
Bienz Mariann,
Müller Jürg
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.950170907
Subject(s) - homeotic gene , gene silencing , biology , genetics , repressor , gene , drosophila melanogaster , histone , drosophila (subgenus) , mutant , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression
Homeotic genes are subject to transcriptional silencing, which prevents their expression in inappropriate body regions. Here, we shall focus on Drosophila , as little is known about this process in other organisms. Evidence is accumulating that silencing of Drosophila homeotic genes is conferred by two types of cis ‐regulatory sequences: initiation (SIL‐I) and maintenance (SIL‐M) elements. The former contain target sites for transient repressors with a highly localised distribution in the early embryo and the latter for constitutive repressors that are likely to be present in all cells. We discuss how SIL‐I elements may cooperate with SIL‐M elements to promote formation of a silencing complex. We propose that this complex consists of specific non‐histone proteins, the so‐called Polycomb group proteins, and that it is anchored at SIL‐M elements and at the promoter.