Abstract
The rox1 and rox2 RNAs have been suggested to be components of the dosage compensation machinery in Drosophila. We show that both rox RNAs colocalize with the male-specific lethal proteins at hundreds of specific bands along the male X chromosome. The rox RNAs and MSL proteins also colocalize with the X chromosome in all somatic cells and are expressed in the same temporal pattern throughout development. Genetic analysis shows that the functions of the rox genes are redundant and required for the association of the MSL proteins with the male X chromosome. These data provide compelling evidence for a direct function of the rox RNAs in dosage compensation.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
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Dosage Compensation, Genetic
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Drosophila / embryology
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Drosophila / genetics*
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Drosophila Proteins*
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Fluorescent Antibody Technique
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
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In Situ Hybridization
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Male
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
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Oligonucleotides, Antisense
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RNA, Messenger / genetics*
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RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
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Repressor Proteins / genetics*
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
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Sequence Alignment
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
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X Chromosome / genetics
Substances
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Drosophila Proteins
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Nuclear Proteins
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Oligonucleotides, Antisense
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Pabp2 protein, Drosophila
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RNA, Messenger
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RNA-Binding Proteins
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ROX1 protein, S cerevisiae
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Repressor Proteins
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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msl-1 protein, Drosophila
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msl-2 protein, Drosophila
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msl-3 protein, Drosophila