Drosophila Heterochromatin Stabilization Requires the Zinc-Finger Protein Small Ovary

Genetics. 2019 Nov;213(3):877-895. doi: 10.1534/genetics.119.302590. Epub 2019 Sep 26.

Abstract

Heterochromatin-mediated repression is essential for controlling the expression of transposons and for coordinated cell type-specific gene regulation. The small ovary (sov) locus was identified in a screen for female-sterile mutations in Drosophila melanogaster, and mutants show dramatic ovarian morphogenesis defects. We show that the null sov phenotype is lethal and map the locus to the uncharacterized gene CG14438, which encodes a nuclear zinc-finger protein that colocalizes with the essential Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1a). We demonstrate Sov functions to repress inappropriate gene expression in the ovary, silence transposons, and suppress position-effect variegation in the eye, suggesting a central role in heterochromatin stabilization.

Keywords: HP1a; gene expression; heterochromatin; oogenesis; position-effect variegation; sov zinc-finger.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Compound Eye, Arthropod / growth & development
  • Compound Eye, Arthropod / metabolism
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila Proteins / chemistry
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila melanogaster
  • Female
  • Heterochromatin / genetics
  • Heterochromatin / metabolism*
  • Loss of Function Mutation
  • Ovary / growth & development
  • Ovary / metabolism
  • Zinc Fingers

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Heterochromatin
  • sov protein, Drosophila