Are we there yet? Initial targeting of the Male-Specific Lethal and Polycomb group chromatin complexes in Drosophila

Chromatin-binding proteins must navigate the complex nuclear milieu to find their sites of action, and a constellation of protein factors and other properties are likely to influence targeting specificity. Despite considerable progress, the precise rules by which binding specificity is achieved have...

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Main Authors: Kyle A. McElroy, Hyuckjoon Kang, Mitzi I. Kuroda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Royal Society 2014-01-01
Series:Open Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsob.140006
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author Kyle A. McElroy
Hyuckjoon Kang
Mitzi I. Kuroda
author_facet Kyle A. McElroy
Hyuckjoon Kang
Mitzi I. Kuroda
author_sort Kyle A. McElroy
collection DOAJ
description Chromatin-binding proteins must navigate the complex nuclear milieu to find their sites of action, and a constellation of protein factors and other properties are likely to influence targeting specificity. Despite considerable progress, the precise rules by which binding specificity is achieved have remained elusive. Here, we consider early targeting events for two groups of chromatin-binding complexes in Drosophila: the Male-Specific Lethal (MSL) and the Polycomb group (PcG) complexes. These two serve as models for understanding targeting, because they have been extensively studied and play vital roles in Drosophila, and their targets have been documented at high resolution. Furthermore, the proteins and biochemical properties of both complexes are largely conserved in multicellular organisms, including humans. While the MSL complex increases gene expression and PcG members repress genes, the two groups share many similarities such as the ability to modify their chromatin environment to create active or repressive domains, respectively. With legacies of in-depth genetic, biochemical and now genomic approaches, the MSL and PcG complexes will continue to provide tractable systems for understanding the recruitment of multiprotein chromatin complexes to their target loci.
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spelling doaj.art-7d18577608074842bc89edb33c11c15a2022-12-22T00:20:00ZengThe Royal SocietyOpen Biology2046-24412014-01-014310.1098/rsob.140006140006Are we there yet? Initial targeting of the Male-Specific Lethal and Polycomb group chromatin complexes in DrosophilaKyle A. McElroyHyuckjoon KangMitzi I. KurodaChromatin-binding proteins must navigate the complex nuclear milieu to find their sites of action, and a constellation of protein factors and other properties are likely to influence targeting specificity. Despite considerable progress, the precise rules by which binding specificity is achieved have remained elusive. Here, we consider early targeting events for two groups of chromatin-binding complexes in Drosophila: the Male-Specific Lethal (MSL) and the Polycomb group (PcG) complexes. These two serve as models for understanding targeting, because they have been extensively studied and play vital roles in Drosophila, and their targets have been documented at high resolution. Furthermore, the proteins and biochemical properties of both complexes are largely conserved in multicellular organisms, including humans. While the MSL complex increases gene expression and PcG members repress genes, the two groups share many similarities such as the ability to modify their chromatin environment to create active or repressive domains, respectively. With legacies of in-depth genetic, biochemical and now genomic approaches, the MSL and PcG complexes will continue to provide tractable systems for understanding the recruitment of multiprotein chromatin complexes to their target loci.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsob.140006chromatin bindingdrosophilamale-specific lethal complexpolycomb group targeting
spellingShingle Kyle A. McElroy
Hyuckjoon Kang
Mitzi I. Kuroda
Are we there yet? Initial targeting of the Male-Specific Lethal and Polycomb group chromatin complexes in Drosophila
Open Biology
chromatin binding
drosophila
male-specific lethal complex
polycomb group targeting
title Are we there yet? Initial targeting of the Male-Specific Lethal and Polycomb group chromatin complexes in Drosophila
title_full Are we there yet? Initial targeting of the Male-Specific Lethal and Polycomb group chromatin complexes in Drosophila
title_fullStr Are we there yet? Initial targeting of the Male-Specific Lethal and Polycomb group chromatin complexes in Drosophila
title_full_unstemmed Are we there yet? Initial targeting of the Male-Specific Lethal and Polycomb group chromatin complexes in Drosophila
title_short Are we there yet? Initial targeting of the Male-Specific Lethal and Polycomb group chromatin complexes in Drosophila
title_sort are we there yet initial targeting of the male specific lethal and polycomb group chromatin complexes in drosophila
topic chromatin binding
drosophila
male-specific lethal complex
polycomb group targeting
url https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsob.140006
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