dMi-2, a hunchback-interacting protein that functions in polycomb repression.

Kehle, J; Beuchle, D; Treuheit, S; Christen, B; Kennison, J A; Bienz, M; Müller, J · Science · 1998

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Early in Drosophila embryogenesis, gap gene products directly repress transcription of homeotic (HOX) genes and thereby delimit HOX expression domains. Subsequently, Polycomb-group proteins maintain this repression. Currently, there is no known molecular link between gap and Polycomb-group proteins. Here, dMi-2 is identified as a protein that binds to a domain in the gap protein Hunchback that is specifically required for the repression of HOX genes. Genetic analyses show that dMi-2 participates in both Hunchback and Polycomb repression in vivo. Hence, recruitment of dMi-2 may serve as a link between repression of HOX genes by Hunchback and Polycomb proteins.

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