Work

Multiple enhancers ensure precision of gap gene-expression patterns in the Drosophila embryo

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: Segmentation of the Drosophila embryo begins with the establishment of spatially restricted gap gene-expression patterns in response to broad gradients of maternal transcription factors, such as Bicoid. Numerous studies have documented the fidelity of these expression patterns, even when embryos are subjected to genetic or environmental stress, but the underlying mechanisms for this transcriptional precision are uncertain. Here we present evidence that every gap gene contains multiple enhancers with overlapping activities to produce authentic patterns of gene expression. For example, a recently identified hunchback (hb) enhancer (located 5-kb upstream of the classic enhancer) ensures repression at the anterior pole. The combination of intronic and 5' knirps (kni) enhancers produces a faithful expression pattern, even though the intronic enhancer alone directs an abnormally broad expression pattern. We present different models for "enhancer synergy," whereby two enhancers with overlapping activities produce authentic patterns of gene expression.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1109873108

Authors: Michael W. Perry, Alistair N. Boettiger, Michael Levine

Institution: University of California, Berkeley

Language: English

Topic: Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: UC Berkeley College of Chemistry, National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Awards: Molecular Analysis of Segmentation in Drosophila, G4184402986