Genetics, Vol 137, 1057-1070, Copyright © 1994


INVESTIGATIONS

Weakener of white (Wow), a Gene That Modifies the Expression of the white Eye Color Locus and That Suppresses Position Effect Variegation in Drosophila melanogaster

J. A. Birchler, U. Bhadra, L. Rabinow, R. Linsk and A. T. Nguyen-Huynh
Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, and The Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

A locus is described in Drosophila melanogaster that modifies the expression of the white eye color gene. This trans-acting modifier reduces the expression of the white gene in the eye, but elevates the expression in other adult tissues. Because of the eye phenotype in which the expression of white is lessened but not eliminated, the newly described locus is called the Weakener of white (Wow). Northern analysis reveals that Wow can exert an inverse or direct modifying effect depending upon the developmental stage. Two related genes, brown and scarlet, that are coordinately expressed with white, are also affected by Wow. In addition, Wow modulates the steady state RNA level of the retrotransposon, copia. When tested with a white promoter-Alcohol dehydrogenase reporter, Wow confers the modifying effect to the reporter, suggesting a requirement of the white regulatory sequences for mediating the response. In addition to being a dosage sensitive regulator of white, brown, scarlet and copia, Wow acts as a suppressor of position effect variegation. There are many dosage sensitive suppressors of position effect variegation and many dosage-sensitive modifiers of gene expression. The Wow mutations provide evidence for an overlap between the two types of modifiers.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Hum Mol GenetHome page
J. Kim and J. D. Kim
In vivo YY1 knockdown effects on genomic imprinting
Hum. Mol. Genet., February 1, 2008; 17(3): 391 - 401.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
M. E. Blewitt, N. K. Vickaryous, S. J. Hemley, A. Ashe, T. J. Bruxner, J. I. Preis, R. Arkell, and E. Whitelaw
An N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea screen for genes involved in variegation in the mouse
PNAS, May 24, 2005; 102(21): 7629 - 7634.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
GeneticsHome page
N. Malmanche and D. V. Clark
Identification of Trans-dominant Modifiers of Prat Expression in Drosophila melanogaster
Genetics, August 1, 2003; 164(4): 1419 - 1433.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
GeneticsHome page
E. Giordano, R. Rendina, I. Peluso, and M. Furia
RNAi Triggered by Symmetrically Transcribed Transgenes in Drosophila melanogaster
Genetics, February 1, 2002; 160(2): 637 - 648.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
GeneticsHome page
M. V. Frolov, E. V. Benevolenskaya, and J. A. Birchler
The oxen Gene of Drosophila Encodes a Homolog of Subunit 9 of Yeast Ubiquinol-Cytochrome c Oxidoreductase Complex: Evidence for Modulation of Gene Expression in Response to Mitochondrial Activity
Genetics, December 1, 2000; 156(4): 1727 - 1736.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
GeneticsHome page
U. Bhadra, M. Pal-Bhadra, and J. A. Birchler
Role of the male specific lethal (msl) Genes in Modifying the Effects of Sex Chromosomal Dosage in Drosophila
Genetics, May 1, 1999; 152(1): 249 - 268.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
GeneticsHome page
M. V. Frolov and J. A. Birchler
Mutation in P0, a Dual Function Ribosomal Protein/Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endonuclease, Modifies Gene Expression and Position Effect Variegation in Drosophila
Genetics, December 1, 1998; 150(4): 1487 - 1495.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
GeneticsHome page
U. Bhadra, M. P. Bhadra, and J. A. Birchler
Interactions Among Dosage-Dependent Trans-Acting Modifiers of Gene Expression and Position-Effect Variegation in Drosophila
Genetics, September 1, 1998; 150(1): 251 - 263.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
GeneticsHome page
Regena (Rga), a Drosophila Homolog of the Global Negative Transcriptional Regulator CDC36 (NOT2) from Yeast, Modifies Gene Expression and Suppresses Position Effect Variegation
Genetics, January 1, 1998; 148(1): 317 - 330.



Home page
DevelopmentHome page
R. Roseman, J. Swan, and P. Geyer
A Drosophila insulator protein facilitates dosage compensation of the X chromosome min-white gene located at autosomal insertion sites
Development, January 11, 1995; 121(11): 3573 - 3582.
[Abstract] [PDF]