Perturbation analysis of heterochromatin-mediated gene silencing and somatic inheritance.

ABSTRACT: Repetitive sequences in eukaryotic genomes induce chromatin-mediated gene-silencing of juxtaposed genes. Many components that promote or antagonize silencing have been identified, but how heterochromatin causes variegated and heritable changes in gene expression remains mysterious. We have used inducible mis-expression in the Drosophila eye to recover new factors that alter silencing caused by the bw(D) allele, an insertion of repetitive satellite DNA that silences a bw(+) allele on the homologous chromosome. Inducible modifiers allow perturbation of silencing at different times in development, and distinguish factors that affect establishment or maintenance of silencing. We find that diverse chromatin and RNA processing factors can de-repress silencing. Most factors are effective even in

SUBMITTER: Schneiderman JI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2936522 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature