Work

Long-range spreading of dosage compensation in Drosophila captures transcribed autosomal genes inserted on X

Year: 2009

Type: preprint

Abstract: Dosage compensation in Drosophila melanogaster males is achieved via targeting of male-specific lethal (MSL) complex to X-linked genes. This is proposed to involve sequence-specific recognition of the X at approximately 150-300 chromatin entry sites, and subsequent spreading to active genes. Here we ask whether the spreading step requires transcription and is sequence-independent. We find that MSL complex binds, acetylates, and up-regulates autosomal genes inserted on X, but only if transcriptionally active. We conclude that a long-sought specific DNA sequence within X-linked genes is not obligatory for MSL binding. Instead, linkage and transcription play the pivotal roles in MSL targeting irrespective of gene origin and DNA sequence.

Source: Genes & Development

DOI: 10.1101/gad.1840409

Authors: Andrey A. Gorchakov, Artyom A. Alekseyenko, Peter Kharchenko, Peter J. Park, Mitzi I. Kuroda

Institutions: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Awards: Molecular Genetics of Dosage Compensation in Drosophila, G4932171409, Molecular Genetics of Dosage Compensation in Drosophila, Statistical and Computational Studies of Microarray Data, G8605056868, G9000095250

OpenAlex ID: W2098025210

Cites: 36

Cited by: 42

Related to: 10