Su(z)12, a novel Drosophila Polycomb group gene that is conserved in vertebrates and plants.

• In both Drosophila and vertebrates, spatially restricted expression of HOX genes is controlled by the Polycomb group (PcG) repressors. Here we characterize a novel Drosophila PcG gene, Suppressor of zeste 12 (Su(z)12). Su(z)12 mutants exhibit very strong homeotic transformations and Su(z)12 function is required throughout development to maintain the repressed state of HOX genes. Unlike most other PcG mutations, Su(z)12 mutations are strong suppressors of position-effect variegation (PEV), suggesting that Su(z)12 also functions in heterochromatin-mediated repression. Furthermore, Su(z)12 function is required for germ cell development. The Su(z)12 protein is highly conserved in vertebrates and is related to the Arabidopsis proteins EMF2, FIS2 and VRN2. Notably, EMF2 is a repressor of floral homeotic genes. These results suggest that at least some of the regulatory machinery that controls homeotic gene expression is conserved between animals and plants.

Keyword

Amino Acid Sequence

Animals

Arabidopsis/genetics

Conserved Sequence

Drosophila Proteins

Drosophila melanogaster/embryology/*genetics

Female

Gene Expression

Genes; Homeobox

Genes; Insect

Humans

Insect Proteins/*genetics/physiology

Male

Molecular Sequence Data

Mutagenesis

Sequence Homology; Amino Acid

Vertebrates/genetics

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

art (subject category)