Reference Report

Reference
Citation	Acar, M., Jafar-Nejad, H., Giagtzoglou, N., Yallampalli, S., David, G., He, Y., Delidakis, C., Bellen, H.J. (2006). Senseless physically interacts with proneural proteins and functions as a transcriptional co-activator. Development 133(10): 1979--1989. (Export to RIS)
FlyBase ID	FBrf0190268
Publication Type	Research paper
PubMed ID	16624856
PubMed Abstract	The zinc-finger transcription factor Senseless is co-expressed with basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proneural proteins in Drosophila sensory organ precursors and is required for their normal development. High levels of Senseless synergize with bHLH proteins and upregulate target gene expression, whereas low levels of Senseless act as a repressor in vivo. However, the molecular mechanism for this dual role is unknown. Here, we show that Senseless binds bHLH proneural proteins via its core zinc fingers and is recruited by proneural proteins to their target enhancers to function as a co-activator. Some point mutations in the Senseless zinc-finger region abolish its DNA-binding ability but partially spare the ability of Senseless to synergize with proneural proteins and to induce sensory organ formation in vivo. Therefore, we propose that the structural basis for the switch between the repressor and co-activator functions of Senseless is the ability of its core zinc fingers to interact physically with both DNA and bHLH proneural proteins. As Senseless zinc fingers are approximately 90% identical to the corresponding zinc fingers of its vertebrate homologue Gfi1, which is thought to cooperate with bHLH proteins in several contexts, the Senseless/bHLH interaction might be evolutionarily conserved.
DOI	10.1242/dev.02372
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Language of Publication	English
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Parent Publication
Publication Type	Journal
Abbreviation	Development
Title	Development
Publication Year	1987-
ISBN/ISSN	0950-1991
Data from Reference
Alleles (24)
	E(spl)m7-HLH^Act5C.PG Ppyr\LUC^{5x.Scer\UAS.Hsim\TK} Ppyr\LUC^ac.470 Ppyr\LUC^ac.mutE1 Ppyr\LUC^ac.mutE1E2 Ppyr\LUC^ac.mutE1E3 Ppyr\LUC^ac.mutE2 Ppyr\LUC^ac.mutE2E3 Ppyr\LUC^ac.mutE3 Scer\GAL4^c684 Scer\GAL4^Eq1 sens^1CC.Scer\UAS sens^1CCg sens^2CC.Scer\UAS sens^2CCg sens^3CC.Scer\UAS sens^3CCg sens^4CC.Scer\UAS sens^4CCg sens^E2 sens^g.+t sens^{GDBD.Act5C.Scer\GAL4} sens^{L2-T-E.Scer\UAS} sens^Scer\UAS.cNa
Constructs (11)
	P{sens.1CCg} P{sens.2CCg} P{sens.3CCg} P{sens.4CCg} P{sens⁺} P{UAS-sens.1CC} P{UAS-sens.2CC} P{UAS-sens.3CC} P{UAS-sens.4CC} P{UAS-sens.L2-T-E} P{UAS-sens.N}
Genes (10)
	ac ato da E(spl)m7-HLH elav futsch Ppyr\LUC sc Scer\GAL4 sens
Insertions (3)
	P{GAL4-Hsp70.PB}l(3)Eq1^Eq1 P{GawB}c684 P{UAS-sens.N}C6
Natural transposons (1)
	P-element