%0 Journal Article %J Genes Dev %D 2009 %T Long-range spreading of dosage compensation in Drosophila captures transcribed autosomal genes inserted on X. %A Gorchakov, Andrey A %A Alekseyenko, Artyom A %A Kharchenko, Peter %A Park, Peter J %A Kuroda, Mitzi I %K Animals %K Dosage Compensation, Genetic %K Drosophila melanogaster %K Drosophila Proteins %K Gene Expression Regulation %K Male %K X Chromosome %X

Dosage compensation in Drosophila melanogaster males is achieved via targeting of male-specific lethal (MSL) complex to X-linked genes. This is proposed to involve sequence-specific recognition of the X at approximately 150-300 chromatin entry sites, and subsequent spreading to active genes. Here we ask whether the spreading step requires transcription and is sequence-independent. We find that MSL complex binds, acetylates, and up-regulates autosomal genes inserted on X, but only if transcriptionally active. We conclude that a long-sought specific DNA sequence within X-linked genes is not obligatory for MSL binding. Instead, linkage and transcription play the pivotal roles in MSL targeting irrespective of gene origin and DNA sequence.

%B Genes Dev %V 23 %P 2266-71 %8 2009 Oct 1 %G eng %N 19 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19797766?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1101/gad.1840409