Stability and dynamics of polycomb target sites in Drosophila development

Camilla Kwong; Boris Adryan; Ian Bell; Lisa Meadows; Steven Russell; J Robert Manak; Robert White

doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1000178

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Stability and dynamics of polycomb target sites in Drosophila development

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Stability and dynamics of polycomb target sites in Drosophila development

Camilla Kwong, Boris Adryan, Ian Bell, Lisa Meadows, Steven Russell, J Robert Manak and Robert White

PLoS genetics, Vol.4(9), pp.e1000178-e1000178

09/05/2008

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000178

PMCID: PMC2525605

PMID: 18773083

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Abstract

Polycomb-group (PcG) and Trithorax-group proteins together form a maintenance machinery that is responsible for stable heritable states of gene activity. While the best-studied target genes are the Hox genes of the Antennapedia and Bithorax complexes, a large number of key developmental genes are also Polycomb (Pc) targets, indicating a widespread role for this maintenance machinery in cell fate determination. We have studied the linkage between the binding of PcG proteins and the developmental regulation of gene expression using whole-genome mapping to identify sites bound by the PcG proteins, Pc and Pleiohomeotic (Pho), in the Drosophila embryo and in a more restricted tissue, the imaginal discs of the third thoracic segment. Our data provide support for the idea that Pho is a general component of the maintenance machinery, since the majority of Pc targets are also associated with Pho binding. We find, in general, considerable developmental stability of Pc and Pho binding at target genes and observe that Pc/Pho binding can be associated with both expressed and inactive genes. In particular, at the Hox complexes, both active and inactive genes have significant Pc and Pho binding. However, in comparison to inactive genes, the active Hox genes show reduced and altered binding profiles. During development, Pc target genes are not simply constantly associated with Pc/Pho binding, and we identify sets of genes with clear differential binding between embryo and imaginal disc. Using existing datasets, we show that for specific fate-determining genes of the haemocyte lineage, the active state is characterised by lack of Pc binding. Overall, our analysis suggests a dynamic relationship between Pc/Pho binding and gene transcription. Pc/Pho binding does not preclude transcription, but levels of Pc/Pho binding change during development, and loss of Pc/Pho binding can be associated with both stable gene activity and inactivity.

Molecular Sequence Data

Repressor Proteins - genetics

Polycomb-Group Proteins

Transcription Factors - genetics

DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics

Drosophila Proteins - metabolism

DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism

Transcription Factors - metabolism

Cell Lineage

Animals

Base Sequence

Drosophila - embryology

Transcription, Genetic

Drosophila Proteins - genetics

Binding Sites

Repressor Proteins - metabolism

Drosophila - genetics

Details

Title: Subtitle: Stability and dynamics of polycomb target sites in Drosophila development
Creators: Camilla Kwong - Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Boris Adryan
Ian Bell
Lisa Meadows
Steven Russell
J Robert Manak
Robert White
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: PLoS genetics, Vol.4(9), pp.e1000178-e1000178
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000178
PMID: 18773083
PMCID: PMC2525605
NLM abbreviation: PLoS Genet
ISSN: 1553-7390
eISSN: 1553-7404
Publisher: United States
Grant note: U01 HG003147 / NHGRI NIH HHS\nN01-CO-12400 / NCI NIH HHS\nMedical Research Council\nBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council\nN01CO12400 / NCI NIH HHS\nG8225539 / Medical Research Council
Language: English
Date published: 09/05/2008
Academic Unit: Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Biology; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center
Record Identifier: 9983991958102771

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