Showing papers by "Michael Perry published in 2011"
TL;DR: Evidence is presented that every gap gene contains multiple enhancers with overlapping activities to produce authentic patterns of gene expression, and different models for “enhancer synergy,” whereby two enhancersWith overlapping activities produce authentic Patterns of Gene expression are presented.
Abstract: Segmentation of the Drosophila embryo begins with the establishment of spatially restricted gap gene-expression patterns in response to broad gradients of maternal transcription factors, such as Bicoid. Numerous studies have documented the fidelity of these expression patterns, even when embryos are subjected to genetic or environmental stress, but the underlying mechanisms for this transcriptional precision are uncertain. Here we present evidence that every gap gene contains multiple enhancers with overlapping activities to produce authentic patterns of gene expression. For example, a recently identified hunchback (hb) enhancer (located 5-kb upstream of the classic enhancer) ensures repression at the anterior pole. The combination of intronic and 5′ knirps (kni) enhancers produces a faithful expression pattern, even though the intronic enhancer alone directs an abnormally broad expression pattern. We present different models for “enhancer synergy,” whereby two enhancers with overlapping activities produce authentic patterns of gene expression.
241 citations
TL;DR: It is reported that a subset of developmental regulatory genes, enriched in critical RNA-processing factors, exhibits synchronous lengthening of their 3′ UTRs during embryogenesis, suggesting a previously unknown mode of posttranscriptional regulation that may contribute to the complexity of neurogenesis or neural function.
Abstract: The 3′ termini of eukaryotic mRNAs influence transcript stability, translation efficiency, and subcellular localization. Here we report that a subset of developmental regulatory genes, enriched in critical RNA-processing factors, exhibits synchronous lengthening of their 3′ UTRs during embryogenesis. The resulting UTRs are up to 20-fold longer than those found on typical Drosophila mRNAs. The large mRNAs emerge shortly after the onset of zygotic transcription, with several of these genes acquiring additional, phased UTR extensions later in embryogenesis. We show that these extended 3′ UTR sequences are selectively expressed in neural tissues and contain putative recognition motifs for the translational repressor, Pumilio, which also exhibits the 3′ lengthening phenomenon documented in this study. These findings suggest a previously unknown mode of posttranscriptional regulation that may contribute to the complexity of neurogenesis or neural function.
135 citations