Abstract
A 730-base pair element regulates expression of the Drosophila gap gene Krüppel (Kr) in response to the fly anterior morphogen bicoid (bcd). Two hormone receptor-like proteins, encoded by the genes knirps (kni) and tailless (tll), bind specifically to the element. In vitro, kni protein competes with the homeodomain-containing bcd protein in binding to a 16-base pair target sequence. In vivo experiments suggest that both kni and tll act as competitive repressors of bcd-mediated activation of Kr. These results suggest a mechanism by which developmental genes can be regulated in response to an activating morphogen gradient antagonized by repressors.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Base Sequence
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Binding, Competitive
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Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / genetics
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Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / metabolism
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Drosophila / embryology
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Drosophila / genetics*
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Drosophila Proteins*
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Embryo, Nonmammalian / physiology
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Female
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Gene Expression Regulation
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Genes, Homeobox*
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Genes, Regulator
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid*
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Repressor Proteins / genetics*
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Repressor Proteins / metabolism
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Restriction Mapping
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beta-Galactosidase / genetics
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beta-Galactosidase / metabolism
Substances
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Drosophila Proteins
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Repressor Proteins
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TLL protein, Drosophila
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kni protein, Drosophila
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Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase
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beta-Galactosidase