Dependence of position-effect variegation in Drosophila on dose of a gene encoding an unusual zinc-finger protein

G Reuter; M Giarre; J Farah; J Gausz; A Spierer; P Spierer

doi:10.1038/344219a0

Dependence of position-effect variegation in Drosophila on dose of a gene encoding an unusual zinc-finger protein

Nature. 1990 Mar 15;344(6263):219-23. doi: 10.1038/344219a0.

Authors

G Reuter¹, M Giarre, J Farah, J Gausz, A Spierer, P Spierer

Affiliation

¹ Department of Genetics, Martin Luther University, Halle, DDR.

PMID: 2107402
DOI: 10.1038/344219a0

Abstract

Position-effect variegation is the inactivation in some cells of a gene translocated next to heterochromatin, the region of the chromosome that is permanently condensed. The number of copies of the Drosophila gene Suvar(3)7 is a dose-limiting factor in this phenomenon, and seems from its sequence that it encodes a protein with five widely spaced zinc-fingers. This novel arrangement of zinc-fingers could help in packaging the chromatin fibre into heterochromatin, and also reflect a novel method of controlling the expression from DNA domains.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Base Sequence
Cloning, Molecular
DNA / genetics
DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
Dosage Compensation, Genetic*
Drosophila / genetics*
Heterochromatin
Metalloproteins / genetics*
Molecular Sequence Data
Mutation
Phosphorylation
Pigmentation / genetics
Restriction Mapping
Suppression, Genetic

Substances

DNA-Binding Proteins
Heterochromatin
Metalloproteins
DNA