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Quantitative Comparison of cis-Regulatory Element (CRE) Activities in Transgenic Drosophila melanogaster
Published on: December 19, 2011
Promoter-specific co-activation by Drosophila mastermind
John W Cave1, Michael A Caudy1
1Department of Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College, Burke Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, New York, NY 10021, USA; Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, 10605, USA.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|October 22, 2008
Summary
Mastermind (Mam) protein is not always essential for activating Notch signaling target genes. Its co-activation role on specific DNA elements depends on promoter context, suggesting other regulatory factors are involved.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Mastermind (Mam) acts as a co-activator for Notch signaling.
- It forms a ternary complex with Suppressor of Hairless (Su(H)) and Notch Intracellular Domain (NICD) on target gene cis-regulatory regions.
- Mam is considered necessary and sufficient for this complex formation on Su(H) Paired Sites (SPS) elements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the promoter specificity of Mam co-activation on Su(H)/NICD complexes.
- To determine if Mam is universally necessary and sufficient for ternary complex formation on SPS elements across different promoters.
Main Methods:
- Transcription assays were performed using native and synthetic Notch target gene promoters in Drosophila cultured cells.
- The recruitment of Mam and the formation of functional Su(H)/NICD/Mam complexes on SPS elements were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Mastermind (Mam) co-activation of Su(H)/NICD complexes on SPS elements is promoter-specific.
- This specificity is mediated by additional, uncharacterized cis-regulatory elements within native promoters.
- These elements are crucial for recruiting Mam and forming functional ternary complexes.
Conclusions:
- Mastermind (Mam) is not universally necessary and sufficient for co-activating binary Su(H)/NICD complexes on SPS elements.
- The context of cis-regulatory elements within specific promoters dictates the requirement for Mam.
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