Repression of hsp70 heat shock gene transcription by the suppressor of hairy-wing protein of Drosophila melanogaster

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Molecular and Cellular Biology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1128/MCB.11.4.1894· OSTI ID:6969216

Holdridge, C; Dorsett, D ^[1]

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1. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, NY (United States)

The suppressor of hairy-wing [su(Hw)] locus of Drosophila melanogaster encodes a zinc finger protein that binds a repeated motif in the gypsy retroposon. Mutations of su(Hw) suppress the phenotypes associated with mutations caused by gypsy insertions. To examine the mechanisms by which su(Hw) alters gene expression, a fragment of gypsy containing multiple su(Hw) protein-binding sites was inserted into various locations in the well-characterized Drosophila hsp70 heat shock gene promoter. The authors found no evidence for activation of basal hsp70 transcription by su(Hw) protein in cultured Drosophila cells but observed that it can repress heat shock-induced transcription. Repression occurred only when su(Hw) protein-binding sites were positioned between binding sites for proteins required for heat shock transcription. They propose that su(Hw) protein interferes nonspecifically with protein-protein interactions required for heat shock transcription, perhaps sterically, or by altering the ability of DNA to bend or twist.

• OSTI ID: 6969216
• Journal Information: Molecular and Cellular Biology; (United States), Journal Name: Molecular and Cellular Biology; (United States) Vol. 11:4; ISSN 0270-7306; ISSN MCEBD4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200* -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
DIPTERA
DNA SEQUENCING
DROSOPHILA
FLIES
FRUIT FLIES
GENE MUTATIONS
GENE REGULATION
GENE REPRESSORS
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
MUTATIONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
TRANSCRIPTION