Genomic characterization of a repetitive motif strongly associated with developmental genes in <it>Drosophila</it>
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-coding DNA represents a high proportion of all metazoan genomes. Although an undetermined fraction of this DNA may be considered devoid of any function, it also contains important information residing in specific <it>cis<...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2003-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Genomics |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/4/52 |
| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-coding DNA represents a high proportion of all metazoan genomes. Although an undetermined fraction of this DNA may be considered devoid of any function, it also contains important information residing in specific <it>cis</it>-regulatory sequences.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We report a 27 bp motif that is overrepresented within the fly genome. This motif does not show any significant similarity with transposon sequences and is strongly associated with genes involved in development and/or signal transduction. The 27 bp motif is preferentially located within introns, and has a tendency to be present in multiple copies around genes. Furthermore, it is often found embedded in known non-coding regulatory regions. The regulatory network defined by this motif is partially shared in <it>D. pseudoobscura</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have identified a 27 bp <it>cis</it>-regulatory sequence widely distributed within the <it>Drosophila </it>genome in association with developmental genes. This motif may be very useful towards the annotation of functional regulatory regions within the <it>Drosophila </it>genome and the construction of regulatory networks of <it>Drosophila </it>development.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1471-2164 |