Complex interactions between cis-regulatory modules in native conformation are critical for Drosophila snail expression.

ABSTRACT: It has been shown in several organisms that multiple cis-regulatory modules (CRMs) of a gene locus can be active concurrently to support similar spatiotemporal expression. To understand the functional importance of such seemingly redundant CRMs, we examined two CRMs from the Drosophila snail gene locus, which are both active in the ventral region of pre-gastrulation embryos. By performing a deletion series in a ∼25 kb DNA rescue construct using BAC recombineering and site-directed transgenesis, we demonstrate that the two CRMs are not redundant. The distal CRM is absolutely required for viability, whereas the proximal CRM is required only under extreme conditions such as high temperature. Consistent with their distinct requirements, the CRMs support distinct expression patterns: the proxim

SUBMITTER: Dunipace L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3160101 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature