Developmental regulation of transcription by a tissue-specific TAF homolog

• Published in: Genes & development Vol. 15; no. 8; pp. 1021 - 1030
• Main Authors: Hiller, M A, Lin, T Y, Wood, C, Fuller, M T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 15.04.2001
• Subjects: Alleles; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Blotting, Northern; Cell Cycle - genetics; Cloning, Molecular; DNA-Binding Proteins - chemistry; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; DNA-Binding Proteins - physiology; Drosophila - genetics; Drosophila Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Genes, Reporter; Male; Models, Genetic; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutation; Protein Isoforms; Research Paper; Retroviridae Proteins - chemistry; Retroviridae Proteins - metabolism; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Spermatogenesis - genetics; Spermatogenesis - physiology; Trans-Activators - chemistry; Trans-Activators - metabolism; Transcription Factor TFIID; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - physiology; Transcription Factors, TFII - genetics; Transcription, Genetic
• ISSN: 0890-9369; 1549-5477
• DOI: 10.1101/gad.869101

Alternate forms of the general transcription machinery have been described in several tissues or cell types. However, the role of tissue-specific TBP-associated factors (TAF(II)s) and other tissue-specific transcription components in regulating differential gene expression during development was not clear. Here we show that the cannonball gene of Drosophila encodes a cell type-specific homolog of a more ubiquitously expressed component of the general transcription factor TFIID. cannonball is required in vivo for high level transcription of a set of stage- and tissue-specific target genes during male gametogenesis. Regulation of transcription by cannonball is absolutely required for spermatogenesis, as null mutations block meiotic cell cycle progression and result in a complete failure of spermatid differentiation. Our results demonstrate that cell type-specific TAF(II)s play an important role in developmental regulation of gene expression.