Section on Drosophila Gene Regulation

Head: James A. Kennison

We are studying the regulation of the homeotic genes of the Antennapedia and bithorax complexes of Drosophila. The homeotic genes have large cis-regulatory regions that drive complex patterns of expression throughout development. Both positive and negative cis-regulatory elements have been identified at distances of up to 100 kb from the promoters. By screening for mutations that fail to properly regulate the homeotic genes, we have identified many new trans-acting factors required for homeotic gene regulation or function. Three of these trans-acting factors appear to be members of a new family of DNA-stimulated ATPases. We have extensively characterized one of these DNA-stimulated ATPases, Brahma, and identified several factors it requires to regulate the Antennapedia homeotic gene.

Resources

• Employee Listing
• E-Mail the Lab: kennisoj@mail.nih.gov