The Drosophila kismet gene is related to chromatin-remodeling factors and is required for both segmentation and segment identity

Development. 1999 Mar;126(6):1175-87. doi: 10.1242/dev.126.6.1175.

Abstract

The Drosophila kismet gene was identified in a screen for dominant suppressors of Polycomb, a repressor of homeotic genes. Here we show that kismet mutations suppress the Polycomb mutant phenotype by blocking the ectopic transcription of homeotic genes. Loss of zygotic kismet function causes homeotic transformations similar to those associated with loss-of-function mutations in the homeotic genes Sex combs reduced and Abdominal-B. kismet is also required for proper larval body segmentation. Loss of maternal kismet function causes segmentation defects similar to those caused by mutations in the pair-rule gene even-skipped. The kismet gene encodes several large nuclear proteins that are ubiquitously expressed along the anterior-posterior axis. The Kismet proteins contain a domain conserved in the trithorax group protein Brahma and related chromatin-remodeling factors, providing further evidence that alterations in chromatin structure are required to maintain the spatially restricted patterns of homeotic gene transcription.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins*
  • Body Patterning / genetics*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins*
  • Chromatin / physiology
  • Conserved Sequence
  • DNA Helicases*
  • Drosophila / embryology
  • Drosophila / genetics*
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Female
  • Genes, Insect*
  • Heterozygote
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
  • Insect Proteins / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1
  • Protein Sorting Signals / genetics
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Suppression, Genetic
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Transcription Factors*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Zygote

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Chromatin
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Insect Proteins
  • Pc protein, Drosophila
  • Protein Sorting Signals
  • Scr protein, Drosophila
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • brm protein, Drosophila
  • eve protein, Drosophila
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1
  • DNA Helicases
  • kis protein, Drosophila

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF113847