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The winged-helix transcription factor JUMU is a haplo-suppressor/triplo-enhancer of PEV in various tissues but exhibits reverse PEV effects in the brain of Drosophila melanogaster

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Abstract

Gene expression goes along with changes in chromatin structure and is regulated by chromatin-modifying factors. If genes are transposed from their euchromatic position to the vicinity of heterochromatin, their expression can underly a position effect variegation (PEV). In Drosophila melanogaster a few genes are known that function in a gene dose-dependent manner as haplo-suppressors and triplo-enhancers of PEV or vice versa. The gene jumeaux (jumu) encodes a winged-helix transcription factor of multiple regulatory functions. A novel PEV test system for Drosophila melanogaster reveals that JUMU behaves as a haplo-suppressor/triplo-enhancer in different larval and adult tissues, but surprisingly behaves in the reverse manner as a haplo-enhancer/triplo-suppressor in larval and adult brains. Like jumu, the Su(var)3-9 gene also behaves as a haplo-suppressor/triplo-enhancer, but in our test system does not show any PEV effect in the brains.

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Abbreviations

CNS:

central nervous system

Dom:

Domina, synonym of the jumeaux gene

Gal4:

Gal4 transcription factor of yeast

GFP:

green fluorescent protein

HP1:

heterochromatin protein 1

Hip:

HP1-interacting protein

Hsp:

heatshock promoter

JUMU:

protein encoded by jumeaux (jumu)

PEV:

position effect variegation

Su(var):

suppressor of variegation

UAS:

upstream activating sequence

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Acknowledgements

We thank Gunter Reuter (Martin-Luther-Universität, Halle) for the anti-SU(VAR)3-9 antibodies and for providing the Su(var)3–9 06 fly stock.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Biologie-Genetik, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 7, 14195, Berlin, Germany

    Annemarie Hofmann, Madeleine Brünner & Günter Korge

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  1. Annemarie Hofmann
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  2. Madeleine Brünner
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  3. Günter Korge
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Correspondence to Günter Korge.

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Responsible Editor: Walther Traut.

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Hofmann, A., Brünner, M. & Korge, G. The winged-helix transcription factor JUMU is a haplo-suppressor/triplo-enhancer of PEV in various tissues but exhibits reverse PEV effects in the brain of Drosophila melanogaster . Chromosome Res 17, 347–358 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10577-009-9026-1

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