MSL2 reads DNA shape to distinguish X from autosome for dosage compensation (MLE RNAi in S2 cells experiments)
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: The rules according to which transcription factors selectively bind only a small subset of genomic sites from a vast pool of similar sequences are not understood. One of the most challenging tasks in DNA recognition is posed by dosage compensation systems that require the unequivocal distinction between a sex chromosome and all autosomes. In Drosophila melanogaster the male-specific-lethal dosage compensation complex (MSL-DCC) doubles the transcription output of most genes on the X chromosome via chromatin modification, but the nature of this selectivity is not known. We now found that MSL2, the male-specific organizer of the DCC, uses two distinct DNA interaction surfaces to read out previously identified X chromosomal ‘high affinity sites’. Specificity is provided by the interaction of the CXC domain with a novel, X-specific motif defined by DNA sequence and shape features. By several criteria these ‘PionX sites’ are primary determinants of X chromosome identity.
ORGANISM(S): Drosophila melanogaster
PROVIDER: GSE75032 | GEO | 2016/08/30
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA302265
REPOSITORIES: GEO
ACCESS DATA