Hormone signalling and the control of chromatin differentiation in Drosophila

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Gunter Reuter (†)
• Subject Area: General Genetics and Functional Genome Biology
• Term: from 2007 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 59143471

Differentiation of euchromatin and heterochromatin in Drosophila is initiated in early embryogenesis. The H3K4 demethylase SU(VAR)3-3, the homolog of human LSD1, defines heterochromatic- euchromatic boundaries by blocking expansion of H3K4me2 into heterochromatin and by promoting SU(VAR)3-9 dependent H3K9 methylation via interaction with the RPD3 deacetylase. The H3K4me3 demethylase LID antagonizes RPD3 expansion into heterochromatin revealing a parallel pathway in control of SU(VAR)3-9 dependent H3K9 methylation. Analysis of these processes only became feasible after genetic dissection of heterochromatic gene silencing in position-effect variegation with dominant Su(var) mutations. Molecular signals initiating chromatin differentiation in embryogenesis are still unknown. Identification of maternal effects on early chromatin differentiation by TAIMAN an ecdysone receptor coactivator protein allows first time molecular dissection of signals controlling chromatin differentiation in development. Functions involved in TAIMAN dependent signalling are identified by genetic, developmental and biochemical studies. Combined with Chip and ChIP analysis we will study the role of ecdysone signalling in control of histone modifying enzymes and other proteins involved in chromatin differentiation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants