Positive Selection at the Polyhomeotic Locus Led to Decreased Thermosensitivity of Gene Expression in Temperate Drosophila melanogaster.

ABSTRACT: Drosophila melanogaster as a cosmopolitan species has successfully adapted to a wide range of different environments. Variation in temperature is one important environmental factor that influences the distribution of species in nature. In particular for insects, which are mostly ectotherms, ambient temperature plays a major role in their ability to colonize new habitats. Chromatin-based gene regulation is known to be sensitive to temperature. Ambient temperature leads to changes in the activation of genes regulated in this manner. One such regulatory system is the Polycomb group (PcG) whose target genes are more expressed at lower temperatures than at higher ones. Therefore, a greater range in ambient temperature in temperate environments may lead to greater variability (plasticity) in the

SUBMITTER: Voigt S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4492382 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature