Molecular Genetics of Segment Identity

描述（由申请人提供）：Hox基因编码一个保守的含同源结构域的转录调节因子家族，在所有后生动物中，该家族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械水平上作为转录调节因子发挥作用。将采用三种方法：1）三种Hox蛋白的结构-功能分析，使用体内的基于拯救的策略，特别关注以上下文依赖性方式与Hox辅因子相互作用的Hox蛋白基序，2）单个Hox靶向调节元件的高分辨率表征，和3）成虫盘（成虫的前体）中Hox依赖性染色质结构的分析。总之，这些研究将为这些和其他转录调节因子在动物发育过程中如何发挥其特定功能提供重要的见解。

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.