Genetics. Published Articles Ahead of Print: November 1, 2004, Copyright © 2004
doi:10.1534/genetics.104.034587


A more recent version of this article appeared on July 1, 2005.


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Drosophila Su(Hw) insulator can stimulate transcription of a weakened yellow promoter over a distance

1 Institute of Gene Giology
2 Institute of Gene Biology

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: georgiev_p{at}mail.ru.

Submitted on August 9, 2004
Revised on September 15, 2004
Accepted on 22 October 2004


Abstract

The insulator element from the gypsy transposon is a DNA sequence that blocks activation of a promoter by a transcriptional enhancer when placed between them. The insulator contains reiterated binding sites for the Suppressor of Hairy-wing [Su(Hw)] zinc-finger protein. A protein encoded by another gene, modifier of mdg4, mod(mdg4), is also required for the enhancer-blocking activity of the Su(Hw) insulator. Here we present evidence that the Su(Hw) insulator activates a weakened yellow promoter at a distance. Deletion of the Upstream Promoter Region (UPR), located close by the TATA box, significantly reduces yellow expression. The Su(Hw) insulator placed at different positions relative to the yellow promoter partially compensates for loss of the UPR. Su(Hw) is able to stimulate yellow expression even if it is located at a 5 kb distance from the promoter. The stimulatory activity depends on the number of the Su(Hw) binding sites but not the AT-rich regions present in the Su(Hw) insulator. Mutational analysis demonstrates that only the DNA-binding domain and adjacent regions of the Su(Hw) protein are required for stimulation of yellow transcription.

Key Words: Drosophila, Mod(mdg4), Su(Hw) insulator, transcription, yellow




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