Abstract
We have studied the ability of the Drosophila gap proteins Kruppel and hunchback to function as transcriptional regulators in cultured cells. Both proteins bind to specific sites in a 100-bp DNA fragment located upstream of the segment gene engrailed, which also contains functional binding sites for a number of homeo box proteins. The hunchback protein is a strikingly concentration-dependent activator of transcription, capable of functioning both by itself and also synergistically with the pair-rule proteins fushi tarazu and paired. In contrast, Kruppel is a transcriptional repressor that can block transcription induced either by hunchback or by several different homeo box proteins. While repression of the homeo box protein activators requires a Kruppel-binding site on the DNA, repression of hunchback can occur efficiently in the absence of a Kruppel-binding site. We discuss the possible molecular mechanisms underlying these activities, as well as the potential significance of these results with respect to segmentation in Drosophila.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 254-264 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Genes and Development |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1991 |
Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Genetics
- Developmental Biology
Keywords
- Drosophila gap proteins
- homeo box protein
- pair-rule proteins
- segment polarity gene