Polycomb group proteins bind an engrailed PRE in both the "ON" and "OFF" transcriptional states of engrailed.

ABSTRACT: Polycomb group (PcG) and trithorax Group (trxG) proteins maintain the "OFF" and "ON" transcriptional states of HOX genes and other targets by modulation of chromatin structure. In Drosophila, PcG proteins are bound to DNA fragments called Polycomb group response elements (PREs). The prevalent model holds that PcG proteins bind PREs only in cells where the target gene is "OFF". Another model posits that transcription through PREs disrupts associated PcG complexes, contributing to the establishment of the "ON" transcriptional state. We tested these two models at the PcG target gene engrailed. engrailed exists in a gene complex with invected, which together have 4 well-characterized PREs. Our data show that these PREs are not transcribed in embryos or larvae. We also examined whether PcG prot

SUBMITTER: Langlais KK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3490902 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature