Segmental determination in Drosophila conferred by hunchback (hb), a repressor of the homeotic gene Ultrabithorax (Ubx).

Abstract

The activity of homeotic genes in Drosophila cells determines segment-specific morphogenesis. Here, we provide evidence that the product of hunchback (hb), a segmentation gene, acts as a direct repressor or "silencer" of the homeotic gene Ultrabithorax (Ubx) and thus prevents ectopic activity of this gene: we show, by stable integration of reporter gene constructs, that hb protein binding sites are capable of repressing at a distance the activity of an embryonic Ubx enhancer outside the Ubx expression domain. This silencing activity is observed at advanced embryonic stages, at a time when the hb gene product is no longer detectable or required, and is dependent on the function of Polycomb (Pc). We propose a working hypothesis as to how hb protein in a "hit-and-run" fashion may effect stable and heritable silencing of the Ubx gene throughout advanced stages of development, thus mediating repression of this homeotic gene outside its realm of function.