An Analysis of Transvection at the yellow Locus of Drosophila melanogaster

Corresponding author: Chao-ting Wu, Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115., twu{at}rascal.med.harvard.edu (E-mail)

Communicating editor: J. A. BIRCHLER

Studies of a wide variety of organisms have shown that homologous sequences can exert a significant impact on each other, resulting in changes in gene sequence, gene expression, chromatin structure, and global chromosome architecture. Our work has focused on transvection, a process that can cause genes to be sensitive to the proximity of a homologue. Transvection is seen at the yellow gene of Drosophila, where it mediates numerous cases of intragenic complementation. In this article, we describe two approaches that have characterized the process of transvection at yellow. The first entailed a screen for mutations that support intragenic complementation at yellow. The second involved the analysis of 53 yellow alleles, obtained from a variety of sources, with respect to complementation, molecular structure, and transcriptional competence. Our data suggest two ways in which transvection may be regulated at yellow: (1) a transcriptional mechanism, whereby the ability of an allele to support transvection is influenced by its transcriptional competency, and (2) a structural mechanism, whereby the pairing of structurally dissimilar homologues results in conformational changes that affect gene expression.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. J. Kuhn-Parnell, C. Helou, D. J. Marion, B. L. Gilmore, T. J. Parnell, M. S. Wold, and P. K. Geyer Investigation of the Properties of Non-gypsy Suppressor of Hairy-wing-Binding Sites Genetics, July 1, 2008; 179(3): 1263 - 1273. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Gohl, M. Muller, V. Pirrotta, M. Affolter, and P. Schedl Enhancer Blocking and Transvection at the Drosophila apterous Locus Genetics, January 1, 2008; 178(1): 127 - 143. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Lee and C.-t. Wu Enhancer-Promoter Communication at the yellow Gene of Drosophila melanogaster: Diverse Promoters Participate in and Regulate trans Interactions Genetics, December 1, 2006; 174(4): 1867 - 1880. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. D. Drapeau, S. A. Cyran, M. M. Viering, P. K. Geyer, and A. D. Long A cis-regulatory Sequence Within the yellow Locus of Drosophila melanogaster Required for Normal Male Mating Success Genetics, February 1, 2006; 172(2): 1009 - 1030. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Kravchenko, E. Savitskaya, O. Kravchuk, A. Parshikov, P. Georgiev, and M. Savitsky Pairing between gypsy Insulators Facilitates the Enhancer Action in trans throughout the Drosophila Genome Mol. Cell. Biol., November 1, 2005; 25(21): 9283 - 9291. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. B. Coulthard, N. Nolan, J. B. Bell, and A. J. Hilliker Transvection at the vestigial Locus of Drosophila melanogaster Genetics, August 1, 2005; 170(4): 1711 - 1721. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. Morris, D. A. Petrov, A. M. Lee, and C.-t. Wu Enhancer Choice in Cis and in Trans in Drosophila melanogaster: Role of the Promoter Genetics, August 1, 2004; 167(4): 1739 - 1747. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Savitsky, T. Kahn, E. Pomerantseva, and P. Georgiev Transvection at the End of the Truncated Chromosome in Drosophila melanogaster Genetics, April 1, 2003; 163(4): 1375 - 1387. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-L. Chen, K. L. Huisinga, M. M. Viering, S. A. Ou, C.-t. Wu, and P. K. Geyer Enhancer action in trans is permitted throughout the Drosophila genome PNAS, March 19, 2002; 99(6): 3723 - 3728. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. M. Donaldson, A. Lui, and G. H. Karpen Modifiers of Terminal Deficiency-Associated Position Effect Variegation in Drosophila Genetics, March 1, 2002; 160(3): 995 - 1009. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. Wei and M. D. Brennan Polarity of transcriptional enhancement revealed by an insulator element PNAS, December 8, 2000; (2000) 11529598. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. E. Dorweiler, C. C. Carey, K. M. Kubo, J. B. Hollick, J. L. Kermicle, and V. L. Chandler mediator of paramutation1 Is Required for Establishment and Maintenance of Paramutation at Multiple Maize Loci PLANT CELL, November 1, 2000; 12(11): 2101 - 2118. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				G. L. Sass and S. Henikoff Pairing-Dependent Mislocalization of a Drosophila brown Gene Reporter to a Heterochromatic Environment Genetics, June 1, 1999; 152(2): 595 - 604. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. R. Morris, P. K. Geyer, and C.-t. Wu Core promoter elements can regulate transcription on a separate chromosome in trans Genes & Dev., February 1, 1999; 13(3): 253 - 258. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				W. Wei and M. D. Brennan Polarity of transcriptional enhancement revealed by an insulator element PNAS, December 19, 2000; 97(26): 14518 - 14523. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]