Chromosome conformation capture on chip (4C) at the Fab7 polycomb response element in the bithorax complex of Drosophila

ABSTRACT: In Drosophila melanogaster, Hox genes are organized in an anterior and a posterior cluster, called Antennapedia complex and bithorax complex, located on the same chromosome arm and separated by 10 Mb of DNA. Both clusters are repressed by Polycomb group (PcG) proteins. Here, we show that genes of the two Hox complexes can interact within PcG bodies in the cell nucleus in tissues where they are corepressed. This colocalization increases during development and depends on PcG proteins. Hox gene contacts are part of a large gene interaction network that includes other PcG target genes. Moreover, they are conserved in the distantly related Drosophila virilis species, and mutations on one of the loci weaken silencing of genes in the other locus, resulting in the exacerbation of homeotic phenotyp

ORGANISM(S): Drosophila melanogaster

SUBMITTER: Giacomo Cavalli 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-23887 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress