Non-specificity of transcription factor function in Drosophila melanogaster
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- 作者：Anthony Percival-Smith
- 关键词：Homeotic selector genes ; Body plan ; Eyeless ; Doublesex ; Transcription regulation ; Fushi tarazu ; Extradenticle
- 刊名：Development Genes and Evolution
- 出版年：2017
- 出版时间：January 2017
- 年：2017
- 卷：227
- 期：1
- 页码：25-39
- 全文大小：
- 刊物类别：Biomedical and Life Sciences
- 刊物主题：Developmental Biology; Neurosciences; Cell Biology; Biochemistry, general; Animal Genetics and Genomics;
- 出版者：Springer Berlin Heidelberg
- ISSN：1432-041X
- 卷排序：227
文摘
A major problem in developmental genetics is how HOX transcription factors, like Proboscipedia (PB) and Ultrabithorax (UBX), regulate distinct programs of gene expression to result in a proboscis versus a haltere, respectively, when the DNA-binding homeodomain (HD) of HOX transcription factors recognizes similar DNA-binding sequences. Indeed, the lack of DNA-binding specificity is a problem for all transcription factors (TFs), as the DNA-binding domains generally recognize small targets of five to six bases in length. Although not the initial intent of the study, I found extensive non-specificity of TF function. Multiple TFs including HOX and HD-containing and non-HD-containing TFs induced both wingless and eyeless phenotypes. The TFs Labial (LAB), Deformed (DFD), Fushi tarazu (FTZ), and Squeeze (SQZ) induced ectopic larval thoracic (T) 1 beard formation in T2 and T3. The TF Doublesex male (DSXM) rescued the reduced maxillary palp pb phenotype. These examples of non-specificity of TF function across classes of TFs, combined with previous observations, compromise the implicit, initial assumption often made that an intrinsic mechanism of TF specificity is important for function. Interestingly, the functional complementation of the pb phenotype may suggest a larger role for regulation of expression of TFs in restriction of function as opposed to an intrinsic specificity of TF function. These observations have major ramifications for analysis of functional conservation in evolution and development.