Research article summary (published 26 Sep 2009):

Groucho corepressor functions as a cofactor for the Knirps short-range transcriptional repressor.

Full Abstract

Despite the pervasive roles for repressors in transcriptional control, the range of action of these proteins on cis regulatory elements remains poorly understood. Knirps has essential roles in patterning the Drosophila embryo by means of short-range repression, an activity that is essential for proper regulation of complex transcriptional control elements. Short-range repressors function in a local fashion to interfere with the activity of activators or basal promoters within approximately 100 bp. In contrast, long-range repressors such as Hairy act over distances >1 kb. The functional distinction between these two classes of repressors has been suggested to stem from the differential recruitment of the CtBP corepressor to short-range repressors and Groucho to long-range repressors. Contrary to this differential recruitment model, we report that Groucho is a functional part of the Knirps short-range repression complex. The corepressor interaction is mediated via an eh-1 like motif present in the N terminus and a conserved region present in the central portion of Knirps. We also show that this interaction is important for the CtBP-independent repression activity of Knirps and is required for regulation of even-skipped. Our study uncovers a previously uncharacterized interaction between proteins previously thought to function in distinct repression pathways, and indicates that the Groucho corepressor can be differentially harnessed to execute short- and long-range repression.

Author information

Author/s: Payankaulam, Sandhya (S); Arnosti, David N (DN);

Affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.

Grants: GM-56976 (Agency:NIGMS NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 106 (issue 41) : pp 17314-9

Dates: Created 2009/10/15; Completed 2009/11/03; Revised 2009/11/06;

PMID: 19805071, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/9/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Amino Acid Sequence Animals Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors - genetics; isolation & purification; metabolism DNA - genetics; isolation & purification Drosophila - embryology; genetics Drosophila Proteins - genetics; isolation & purification; metabolism Embryo, Nonmammalian - physiology Gene Expression Regulation Homeodomain Proteins - genetics Kinetics

Molecular Sequence Data Mutagenesis Phenotype Promoter Regions, Genetic Repressor Proteins - genetics; isolation & purification; metabolism Sequence Alignment Sequence Homology, Amino Acid Tissue Extracts - physiology Transcription Factors - genetics Transcription, Genetic

Associated Chemicals: Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors (0) ; Drosophila Proteins (0) ; Homeodomain Proteins (0) ; Repressor Proteins (0) ; Tissue Extracts (0) ; Transcription Factors (0) ; eve protein, Drosophila (0) ; groucho protein, Drosophila (0) ; kni protein, Drosophila (0) ; DNA (9007-49-2)

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