Drosophila RISC Component VIG and Its Homolog Vig2 Impact Heterochromatin Formation

Gracheva, E., Dus, M., Elgin, S. C. (July 2009) Drosophila RISC Component VIG and Its Homolog Vig2 Impact Heterochromatin Formation. PLoS ONE, 4 (7). e6182.

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URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19584931
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006182

Abstract

Heterochromatin formation plays an important role in gene regulation and the maintenance of genome integrity. Here we present results from a study of the D. melanogaster gene vig, encoding an RNAi complex component and its homolog vig2 (CG11844) that support their involvement in heterochromatin formation and/or maintenance. Protein null mutations vig(EP812) and vig2(PL470) act as modifiers of Position Effect Variegation (PEV). VIG and Vig2 are present in polytene chromosomes and partially overlap with HP1. Quantitative immunoblots show depletion of HP1 and HP2 (large isoform) in isolated nuclei from the vig(EP812) mutant. The vig2(PL470) mutant strain demonstrates a decreased level of H3K9me2. Pull-down experiments using antibodies specific to HP1 recovered both VIG and Vig2. The association between HP1 and both VIG and Vig2 proteins depends on an RNA component. The above data and the developmental profiles of the two genes suggest that Vig2 may be involved in heterochromatin targeting and establishment early in development, while VIG may have a role in stabilizing HP1/HP2 chromatin binding during later stages.

Item Type: Paper
Subjects: bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification
organism description > animal > insect > Drosophila
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > Chromatin dynamics
organism description > animal > insect
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Hannon lab
School of Biological Sciences > Publications
Depositing User: Matt Covey
Date: 8 July 2009
Date Deposited: 21 Feb 2013 17:48
Last Modified: 26 Sep 2014 19:05
PMCID: PMC2703606
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/27364

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