EG:BACH59J11.3
transcription factor - hlh domain and leucine zipper domain - trithorax group - Zeste specifically interacts with the p400 Brahma complex component - tunes the timing of ecdysone actions in triggering programmed tissue degeneration in Drosophila
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AlphaFold produces a per-residue confidence score (pLDDT) between 0 and 100. Some regions with low pLDDT may be unstructured in isolation.
Gene model reviewed during 5.40
Gene model reviewed during 5.44
Stop-codon suppression (UGA) postulated; FBrf0216884.
Gene model reviewed during 5.51
2.5 (northern blot)
2.4 (northern blot, longest cDNA)
2.2 (northern blot)
575 (aa)
555 (aa); 61 (kD predicted)
Self-associates forming complexes of several hundred monomers.
Click to get a list of regulatory features (enhancers, TFBS, etc.) and gene disruptions (point mutations, indels, etc.) within or overlapping Dmel\z using the Feature Mapper tool.
Comment: maternally deposited
The 2.4 kb z transcript is found atvery high levels in unfertilized eggs. The levels decline throughembryogenesis, but are still detectable in first and second instar larvae.Levels increase in third instar larvae, and peak once again in pupae. Thez transcript is detectable in adult males and females. A zFBtr0091350:pb-XREcol\lacZfusion protein is first detected ubiquitously at germ band extension, andpersists through the rest of embryogenesis. Ecol\lacZ activity declinesduring larval development. By early third larval instar, activity is onlyseen in the gonads, central nervous system, sections of the gut, andtissues in the larval head. Starting in climbing third instar larvae, andcontinuing until the beginning of pupation, Ecol\lacZ staining increases andis visible in Malpighian tubules, salivary glands, the ring gland andimaginal discs. In the pharate adult, the appendages, mainly the antennae,and the thoracic musculature, express Ecol\lacZ. In the adult, staining isvisible in the brain and gonads.
z transcript is detected in all developmental stages.
GBrowse - Visual display of RNA-Seq signals
View Dmel\z in GBrowse 2Please Note FlyBase no longer curates genomic clone accessions so this list may not be complete
Please Note This section lists cDNAs and ESTs that fall within the genomic extent of the gene model, which may include cDNAs and ESTs of genes within introns, or of overlapping genes. Please see GBrowse for alignment of the cDNAs and ESTs to the gene model.
For each fully sequenced cDNA the DGRC maintains various forms of the cDNA (e.g tagged or untagged) in several different host vectors for subsequent cloning and expression in Drosophila and Drosophila cell lines.
polyclonal
DNA-protein interactions: genome-wide binding profile assayed for z protein in stage 11 (7.5-9.5 hr) embryos; see BDTNP1_TFBS_z collection report.
RNAi generated by PCR using primers directed to this gene causes a cell growth and viability phenotype when assayed in Kc167 and S2R+ cells.
In a sample of 79 genes with multiple introns, 33 showed significant heterogeneity in G+C content among introns of the same gene and significant positive correspondence between the intron and the third codon position G+C content within genes. These results are consistent with selection adding against preferred codons at the start of genes.
Studies of Ubx-Ecol\lacZ promoter constructs show that binding of z protein to either the proximal enhancer of Ubx or to the BXD enhancer element of Ubx does not require the presence of the other element. However, significant transcription is observed only when both elements are present and bound by z.
The Ubx gene has redundant cis-regulatory elements, which apparently contain binding sites for factors that share the function of the z gene product. z and Trl have an overlapping function in regulating Ubx. The z product binds at equal levels to Ubx promoter constructs (which it activates) as to the endogenous Ubx gene (which it redundantly regulates). z is significantly active in the wild-type situation.
Transvection of iab5,6,7 is z independent.
Amorphic mutations of z are strong recessive enhancers of position effect variegation (PEV) for the w, rst and N loci. Results propose that z is important for the opening and stabilising of chromatin domains, a step in gene determination and the establishment of cell memory. Chromatin domains that have been structurally modified by chromosomal rearrangement or by insertion of a transposable element are particularly sensitive to the absence or modification of the z protein.
z gene product functions as part of a complex that stimulates transcription by changing chromatin conformation to establish and maintain transcriptionally active domains.
The assembly of the z gene product into multimeric forms is an orderly, stepwise process which can be arrested at intermediate stages by mutations affecting the integrity or configuration of heptad repeats. The formation of large aggregates is strictly correlated with the ability to suppress w gene expression in the eye. Direct interactions between z protein molecules in vivo as well as in vitro have been demonstrated.
The z protein binds to DNA in a highly cooperative manner which depends on its ability to form multimers which can interact simultaneously with multiple recognition sequences. The DNA binding domain alone is insufficient for stimulation of w, suggesting that another region of the protein is required for proper function in vivo.
In vitro studies of mutated and deleted z proteins indicate that a sequence in the z protein that resembles the DNA recognition helix of homeodomain proteins is essential for DNA binding activity. The C-terminal domain of the z protein is responsible for the extensive aggregation properties of the z protein that are required for its role in transvection phenomena.
Measurements of the activity of GTP cyclohydrolase demonstrate a much lower level of substrate utilization in z-eyed flies than in wild type flies.
The unstable z-w assay was used to compare mutation rates in germinal and somatic cells. Formaldehyde and methylmethane sulphonate induce mutations in larval and adult feeding in somatic and germinal cells: methylmethane sulphonate causes an elevated frequency of mutations in somatic and germinal cells and formaldehyde only causes somatic mutations.
The mutagenicity of the antifungal preservative methyl p-hydrobenzoate has been analysed using the z eye spot test.
ZESTE genetic test system is used to investigate whether chrysotile and amosite asbestos induces germ-line aneuploidy - both asbestos have germ-line effects.
Dichloroacetonitrile, not dibromoacetonitrile, is an effective inducer of aneuploidy in oocytes using the ZESTE genetic test system.
FIX and ZESTE systems permit rapid and efficient detection of exceptional offspring derived from aneuploid female germ cells. The system differs in response to different chemicals.
ZESTE system is used to monitor induction of sex chromosome aneuploidy following inhalation exposure to nitriles - nitriles disrupt chromosome segregation in oocytes.
When z is effective against w the Inr-a interaction is blocked.
z interacts with w in an eye specific manner.
zeste deleted females have a dull reddish/brown eye colour. Despite the eye colour morphology is normal, females are fertile with almost normal levels of fecundity to give zeste deficient progeny. P elements carrying a wild type copy of z were able to rescue the mutant eye colour to wild type, but did not correct lowered viability. Results suggest that z may not be essential for the viability or female fertility.
Novel class of z mutations have been selected and analyzed.
Inversions, translocations and transpositions with breaks in 3C3, induced as derivatives of z1 chromosomes carrying tandem duplications of w+, result in a range of zeste phenotypes in males and females, the eye colors being zeste, zeste variegated, zeste halo and wild type (Green, 1967; Green, 1984). E(z) and Su(z) loci have been described (Green, 1967; Kalisch and Rasmuson, 1974; Persson, 1976).
The regulatory gene zeste interacts with the white locus as well as with the bithorax and decapentaplegic complexes, changing the phenotypic expression of these loci. z1 was the first mutant allele identified (Gans, 1948; Gans, 1953); the homo- or hemizygotes of this neomorphic mutant show a lemon yellow eye color when carrying two paired copies of w+ or of the rightmost w+ alleles <up>as in z1 w+/z1 w+ females or z1/Y males with a w+ duplication (Jack and Judd, 1979)</up>. z1 w+/Y males without the duplication, z1/z1 females heterozygous for a w allele belonging to one of the right-hand (zeste-suppressing) subloci, or z+/z1 females are wild type. An intralocus duplication for a right sublocus of white produces mottling in z1 males. z1 eye color develops autonomously in mosaics and in eye-disk transplants. It is not affected by the number of Y chromosomes in the genotype. A third chromosome mutant wo interacts with z1 or z58g to lighten eye color, producing z/z;wo/wo white-eyed females and z/Y;wo/wo males with a slight deviation from wild-type eye color (Rayle, 1969; Kaufman et al., 1973). z1 has no effect on the expression of the white gene in ocelli, testes, or larval Malpighian tubules. The first za mutant was also identified by Gans. These mutants are wild type in za/Y males and za/za, za/Df(1)z, and z+/za females. The heteroallelic combination of z1/za, however, results in yellow-eyed flies. Complementation between wsp1 and other white alleles does not occur in za mutants, although it does occur in z+ or z1 flies (Babu and Bhat, 1980). za-type alleles, including zae(bx), as well as the partial revertant of z1, z11G3, enhance the mutant phenotype of certain heteroallelic combinations of BXC alleles that show transvection (partial complementation) when paired; z+ and z1, however, do not affect these BXC alleles (Kaufman et al., 1973; Gelbart and Wu, 1982; Mariani et al., 1985; Pirrotta et al., 1987). All zeste mutant alleles tested enhance certain heteroallelic mutant combinations that show transvection in dpp (Gelbart and Wu, 1982). The zop mutants (Lifschytz and Green, 1984), unlike z1, require only one copy of w+ for expression of a zeste eye color in homo- and hemizygotes. Heterozygotes over z+ are zeste if they have two copies of w+, but are wild type if there is only one copy. Another mutant, zv77h, requires only one copy of w+ in males. The eyes are brown variegated in hemi- and homozygous zv77h females and zv77h/Y males, but wild type in homozygous zv77h Dp(1;1)w+2 females and zv77h Dp(1;1)w+2/Y males, this allele responding to an increase in w+ dosage in a manner contrary to that of z1 (Green, 1984). Diepoxy-butane-induced mutations (including multilocus deletions) have been generated in an attempt to obtain a null allele of zeste (Goldberg, Colvin and Mellin, 1989). Some of the females that were completely deficient for z <up>Df(1)z-deb3/Df(1)z-deb3, for example</up> survived and were fertile, indicating that the product of the zeste gene is not required for viability or female fertility.