Molecular Genetics of Segment Identity

描述（由申请人提供）：Hox基因编码一个保守的含有同源域的转录调控因子家族，在所有后生动物中对动物发育的许多方面都至关重要。该项目的长期目标是了解这些蛋白质如何在机制水平上作为转录调节因子发挥作用。将使用三种方法：1)对三种Hox蛋白进行结构-功能分析，使用体内拯救策略，特别关注以上下文依赖的方式与Hox辅因子相互作用的Hox蛋白基序，2)对单个Hox靶向调控元件进行高分辨率表征，以及3)分析成虫前体成像盘中Hox依赖的染色质结构。总之，这些研究将为这些和其他转录调节因子如何在动物发育过程中发挥其特定功能提供重要见解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Hox genes encode a conserved family of homeodomain-containing transcriptional regulators that are critical for many aspects of animal development, in all metazoans. The long-term goal of this project is to understand how these proteins function as transcriptional regulators at a mechanistic level. Three approaches will be used: 1) a structure-function analysis of three Hox proteins, using an in vivo, rescue-based strategy, focusing especially on Hox protein motifs that interact with Hox cofactors in a context-dependent manner, 2) the high-resolution characterization of individual Hox- targeted regulatory elements, and 3) an analysis of the Hox-dependent chromatin architectures in the imaginal discs, the precursors of the adult fly. Together, these studies will provide important insights int how these and other transcriptional regulators carry out their specific functions during animal development.