Spatially varying cis-regulatory divergence in Drosophila embryos elucidates cis-regulatory logic.

ABSTRACT: Spatial patterning of gene expression is a key process in development, yet how it evolves is still poorly understood. Both cis- and trans-acting changes could participate in complex interactions, so to isolate the cis-regulatory component of patterning evolution, we measured allele-specific spatial gene expression patterns in D. melanogaster × simulans hybrid embryos. RNA-seq of cryo-sectioned slices revealed 66 genes with strong spatially varying allele-specific expression. We found that hunchback, a major regulator of developmental patterning, had reduced expression of the D. simulans allele specifically in the anterior tip of hybrid embryos. Mathematical modeling of hunchback cis-regulation suggested a candidate transcription factor binding site variant, which we verified as causal usin

SUBMITTER: Combs PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6211617 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature