Abstract
Polycomb group (PcG) and Trithorax (TRX) complexes assemble at Polycomb response elements (PREs) and maintain respectively the repressed and active state of homeotic genes. Although PcG and TRX complexes are distinct, their binding to some PRE fragments in vitro depends on GAGA motifs. GAGA factor immunoprecipitates with both complexes. In presence of a PRE, TRX stimulates expression and prevents the return of repression at later stages. When TRX levels are reduced, repression is re-established in inappropriate regions of imaginal discs, suggesting that TRX insufficiency impairs the epigenetic memory of the active state. Targeting a GAL-TRX fusion shows that TRX is a coactivator that stimulates expression of an active gene but cannot initiate expression by itself. Targeting a histone acetylase to a PRE does not affect embryonic silencing but causes a loss of memory in imaginal discs, suggesting that deacetylation is required to establish the memory of the repressed state.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Acetylation
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Animals
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Binding Sites
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Cell Cycle Proteins
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Drosophila Proteins / genetics
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Drosophila melanogaster / embryology
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Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
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Embryo, Nonmammalian
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Female
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
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Gene Silencing
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Histone Acetyltransferases
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Histones / metabolism
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Homeodomain Proteins*
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Insect Proteins / genetics*
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Insect Proteins / metabolism
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Polycomb Repressive Complex 1
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Recombinant Proteins / genetics
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Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
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Response Elements
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Trans-Activators / genetics
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Transcription Factors*
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p300-CBP Transcription Factors
Substances
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Cell Cycle Proteins
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Drosophila Proteins
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Histones
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Insect Proteins
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Pc protein, Drosophila
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Recombinant Proteins
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Trans-Activators
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Transcription Factors
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Trl protein, Drosophila
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Ubx protein, Drosophila
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Histone Acetyltransferases
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p300-CBP Transcription Factors
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p300-CBP-associated factor
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Polycomb Repressive Complex 1