Overlapping mechanisms function to establish transcriptional quiescence in the embryonicDrosophilagermline

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.01004
• Publication Date: 2004-02-17T01:14:10Z
• Authors: Girish Deshpande; Gretchen Calhoun; Paul Schedl
• Keywords: Drosophila embryogenesis; Transcription

In Drosophila melanogaster, the germline precursor cells, i.e. pole are formed at posterior of embryo. As observed for newly germ cells in many other eukaryotes, distinguished from soma by their transcriptional quiescence. To learn more about mechanisms involved establishing quiescence, we ectopically expressed a potent activator, Bicoid (Bcd), cells. We find that Bcd overrides machinery downregulates transcription, and activates not only its target gene hunchback but also normally female specific Sex-lethal promoter, Sxl-Pe, both sexes. Unexpectedly, terminal pathway torso-like is required Bcd-dependent transcription. However, signaling known to be attenuated this raises question how accomplished. present evidence indicating polar granule component (pgc) downregulate early Consistently, compromised pgc function exhibit elevated levels activated MAP kinase premature transcription tailless (tll). Furthermore, establish repressive chromatin architecture