Homeotic gene silencing in Drosophila.

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Publication Type dissertation
School or College School of Medicine
Department Human Genetics
Author Stojanova, Zlatka Petrova
Title Homeotic gene silencing in Drosophila.
Date 2007-12
Description Homeotic genes specify segment identity in Drosophila. Their pattern of expression is set early in the embryo by the transient expression of the segmentation genes. Later in development, when the products of the segmentation genes are no longer present, the Polycomb Group of genes (PcG) silences the homeotic genes within the appropriate segments. In an effort to study how PcG genes mediate silencing of homeotic genes, I carried out a screen for genetic interactions between a mutation in the Polycomb locus (Pc 3 ) and a series of mutations in genes that affect heterochromatic Position effect variegation (PEV). The idea that PcG silencing shares molecular mechanisms with PEV has existed for a long time, but no one has reported a detailed study in the literature. We observed that several PEV modifiers interacted strongly with Pc 3 . One such gene is Su(var)2-10, also called dPIAS. We set out to characterize Su(var)2-10 genetically, biochemically and in vivo in an effort to understand how it might control PcG silencing. The Su(var)2-10 gene product, bears a high sequence identity to mammalian PIAS proteins, some of which have been reported to function as E3 enzymes in a protein modification pathway called SUMOylation. Thus we assessed whether SUMOylation contributes to PcG silencing and to PEV, and whether the SU(VAR)2-10 protein is a SUMO E3 enzyme. In our effort to study interacting partners of SU(VAR)2-10, we identified the GAGA factor. We established that GAGA factor is a substrate for SUMOylation and that this modification has biological significance for GAGA function in PEV.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Genetics; Polycomb Group
Subject MESH Genes, Homeobox; Gene Silencing; Drosophila
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name PhD
Language eng
Relation is Version of Digital reproduction of "Homeotic gene silencing in Drosophila." Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library. Print version of "Homeotic gene silencing in Drosophila." available at J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collection. QL3.5 2007 .S86.
Rights Management © Zlatka Petrova Stojanova.
Format Medium application/pdf
Identifier us-etd2,20358
Source Original: University of Utah Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library (no longer available).
ARK ark:/87278/s6kd2cdm
Setname ir_etd
ID 192745
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6kd2cdm