The Drosophila SET domain encoding gene dEset is essential for proper development
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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Dissection and Immunostaining of Imaginal Discs from Drosophila melanogaster
Published on: September 20, 2014
Marianne Stabell1, Mona Bjørkmo, Reidunn B Aalen
1Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O.B. 1041 Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway.
Abstract:
We have identified dEset, the fly homolog of human SETDB1 and mouse ESET histone lysine methyltransferases (HKMTases) that methylates the lysine 9 residue of histone 3 (H3-K9) and negatively regulates transcription of target genes. By using spatio-temporal RNA interference we show that dEset is required at several stages of development coinciding with ecdysone pulses, possibly as a repressor of transcription of target genes. Several interacting partners, for example USP, spire, and cut up were identified in a yeast two-hybrid screen. The spatio-temporal expression profiles of dEset and its potential partners suggest that they may act together or even in a larger complex.
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