RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The <em>Drosophila</em> Fab-7 boundary element modulates <em>Abd-B</em> gene activity in the genital disc by guiding an inversion of collinear chromatin organization and alternative promoter use
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2022.04.26.489596
DO 10.1101/2022.04.26.489596
A1 Laura Moniot-Perron
A1 Benoit Moindrot
A1 Line Manceau
A1 Joanne Edouard
A1 Yan Jaszczyszyn
A1 Pascale Gilardi-Hebenstreit
A1 Céline Hernandez
A1 Sébastien Bloyer
A1 Daan Noordermeer
YR 2022
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/04/26/2022.04.26.489596.abstract
AB Hox genes encode transcription factors that specify segmental identities along the Antero-Posterior body axis. These genes are organized in clusters, where their order corresponds to their activity along the body axis, an evolutionary conserved feature known as collinearity. In Drosophila, the BX-C cluster contains the three most posterior Hox genes, where their collinear activation incorporates progressive replacement of histone modifications, reorganization of 3D chromatin architecture and sequential activation of boundary elements and cis-regulatory regions. To dissect functional hierarchies, we compared chromatin organization in larvae and in cell lines, with a focus on the Abd-B gene. Our work establishes the importance of the Fab-7 boundary element for insulation between 3D domains marked by different histone modifications. Interestingly, we detected a non-canonical inversion of collinear chromatin dynamics at the Abd-B gene, with the active histone domain decreasing in size. This chromatin organization differentially instructed alternative Abd-B promoter use, thereby expanding the possibilities to regulate transcriptional output.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.