Ectopic assembly of heterochromatin in Drosophila melanogaster triggered by transposable elements.

ABSTRACT: A persistent question in biology is how cis-acting sequence elements influence trans-acting factors and the local chromatin environment to modulate gene expression. We reported previously that the DNA transposon 1360 can enhance silencing of a reporter in a heterochromatic domain of Drosophila melanogaster. We have now generated a collection of variegating phiC31 landing-pad insertion lines containing 1360 and a heat-shock protein 70 (hsp70)-driven white reporter to explore the mechanism of 1360-sensitive silencing. Many 1360-sensitive sites were identified, some in apparently euchromatic domains, although all are close to heterochromatic masses. One such site (line 1198; insertion near the base of chromosome arm 2L) has been investigated in detail. ChIP analysis shows 1360-dependent Heter

SUBMITTER: Sentmanat MF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3435190 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature