Open AccessIdentification of tightly regulated groups of genes during Drosophila melanogaster embryogenesis
Author(s) -
Hooper Sean D,
Boué Stephanie,
Krause Roland,
Jensen Lars J,
Mason Christopher E,
Ghanim Murad,
White Kevin P,
Furlong Eileen EM,
Bork Peer
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
molecular systems biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.523
H-Index - 148
ISSN - 1744-4292
DOI - 10.1038/msb4100112
Subject(s) - biology , drosophila melanogaster , gene , genetics , embryogenesis , transcriptome , drosophila embryogenesis , maternal to zygotic transition , gene expression , genome , microbiology and biotechnology , zygote
Time‐series analysis of whole‐genome expression data during Drosophila melanogaster development indicates that up to 86% of its genes change their relative transcript level during embryogenesis. By applying conservative filtering criteria and requiring ‘sharp’ transcript changes, we identified 1534 maternal genes, 792 transient zygotic genes, and 1053 genes whose transcript levels increase during embryogenesis. Each of these three categories is dominated by groups of genes where all transcript levels increase and/or decrease at similar times, suggesting a common mode of regulation. For example, 34% of the transiently expressed genes fall into three groups, with increased transcript levels between 2.5–12, 11–20, and 15–20 h of development, respectively. We highlight common and distinctive functional features of these expression groups and identify a coupling between downregulation of transcript levels and targeted protein degradation. By mapping the groups to the protein network, we also predict and experimentally confirm new functional associations.