Abstract
We have used the interaction trap, a yeast two-hybrid system, to identify proteins interacting with hairy, a basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein that represses transcription during Drosophila embryonic segmentation. We find that the groucho (gro) protein binds specifically to hairy and also to hairy-related bHLH proteins encoded by deadpan and the Enhancer of split complex. The C-terminal WRPW motif present in all these bHLH proteins is essential for this interaction. We demonstrate that these associations reflect in vivo maternal requirements for gro during neurogenesis, segmentation, and sex determination, three processes regulated by the above bHLH proteins, and we propose that gro is a transcriptional corepressor recruited to specific target promoters by hairy-related bHLH proteins.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Base Sequence
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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Cell Transplantation
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DNA Mutational Analysis
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
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Drosophila / embryology*
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Drosophila / genetics
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Drosophila Proteins*
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Female
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Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors
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Gene Dosage
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Gene Expression Regulation
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Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs / genetics
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Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs / physiology*
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Homeodomain Proteins*
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Insect Hormones / genetics
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Insect Hormones / metabolism*
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Insect Proteins*
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Male
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nervous System / embryology
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Protein Binding
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RNA-Binding Proteins*
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Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
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Repressor Proteins / genetics
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Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
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Sex Differentiation
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Structure-Activity Relationship
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / metabolism*
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Transcription, Genetic*
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Yeasts / genetics
Substances
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Drosophila Proteins
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Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Insect Hormones
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Insect Proteins
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RNA-Binding Proteins
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Recombinant Proteins
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Repressor Proteins
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Sxl protein, Drosophila
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Transcription Factors
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ftz protein, Drosophila
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gro protein, Drosophila
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hairy protein, Drosophila
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hairy protein, insect