Sequence-specific transcriptional antirepression of the Drosophila Krüppel gene by the GAGA factor

• Published in: The Journal of biological chemistry Vol. 266; no. 1; pp. 574 - 582
• Main Authors: Kerrigan, L A, Croston, G E, Lira, L M, Kadonaga, J T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 05.01.1991; American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Subjects: ADN; Animals; Base Sequence; Binding Sites; Biological and medical sciences; DNA; DNA - genetics; DNA - isolation & purification; DNA BINDING PROTEINS; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; DROSOPHILA; Drosophila - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GENE; GENES; GENETIC FACTORS; GENETICA; GENETICS; GENETIQUE; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; MOLECULAR SEQUENCE DATA; NUCLEOTIDE; NUCLEOTIDES; NUCLEOTIDOS; Oligonucleotide Probes; Promoter Regions, Genetic; PROTEINAS; PROTEINE; PROTEINS; RNA POLYMERASE; Templates, Genetic; TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS; Transcription, Genetic; Transcription. Transcription factor. Splicing. Rna processing; TRANSFERASAS; TRANSFERASE; TRANSFERASES; In vitro transcription; Transcription promoter; Footprinting technique; Transcription repressor; Transcription factor; Mechanism of action; Transcription initiation
• ISSN: 0021-9258; 1083-351X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0021-9258(18)52474-1

We have analyzed the proximal promoter of the Drosophila Krüppel (Kr) gene. A 44-base pair fragment containing the RNA start sites contains significant promoter activity, and this minimal promoter is flanked both upstream and downstream by binding sites for the GAGA factor. The GAGA factor is the predominant sequence-specific DNA binding factor that interacts with the Kr promoter region, and the purified protein activates Kr transcription in vitro. However, strong transcriptional activation of Kr as well as of Ultrabithorax, another GAGA factor-responsive gene, requires the presence of a DNA binding transcriptional repressor. The GAGA factor is able to relieve this repression in a binding site-dependent manner, and, thus, these data suggest that the GAGA factor functions as an antirepressor, rather than an activator, of the Kr gene.