Inheritance of Polycomb-dependent chromosomal interactions in Drosophila

Genes Dev. 2003 Oct 1;17(19):2406-20. doi: 10.1101/gad.269503.

Abstract

Maintenance of cell identity is a complex task that involves multiple layers of regulation, acting at all levels of chromatin packaging, from nucleosomes to folding of chromosomal domains in the cell nucleus. Polycomb-group (PcG) and trithorax-group (trxG) proteins maintain memory of chromatin states through binding at cis-regulatory elements named PcG response elements or cellular memory modules. Fab-7 is a well-defined cellular memory module involved in regulation of the homeotic gene Abdominal-B (Abd-B). In addition to its action in cis, we show here by three-dimensional FISH that the Fab-7 element leads to association of transgenes with each other or with the endogenous Fab-7, even when inserted in different chromosomes. These long-distance interactions enhance PcG-mediated silencing. They depend on PcG proteins, on DNA sequence homology, and on developmental progression. Once long-distance pairing is abolished by removal of the endogenous Fab-7, the derepressed chromatin state induced at the transgene locus can be transmitted through meiosis into a large fraction of the progeny, even after reintroduction of the endogenous Fab-7. Strikingly, meiotic inheritance of the derepressed state involves loss of pairing between endogenous and transgenic Fab-7. This suggests that transmission of nuclear architecture through cell division might contribute to inheritance of chromatin states in eukaryotes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics
  • Chromatin / genetics
  • Chromosomes / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila / embryology
  • Drosophila / genetics*
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Gene Silencing
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Male
  • Meiosis
  • Mitosis
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid*
  • Transcription Factors*
  • X Chromosome

Substances

  • Abd-B proteins, Drosophila
  • Chromatin
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Pc protein, Drosophila
  • Transcription Factors
  • Trl protein, Drosophila
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1