Drosophila male-specific lethal-2 protein: structure/function analysis and dependence on MSL-1 for chromosome association.

摘要: MSL-2 is required for the male-specific assembly of a dosage compensation regulatory complex on X chromosome Drosophila melanogaster. We found that binds in reproducible, partial pattern to male absence MLE or MSL-3, when ectopically expressed at low level females. Moreover, binding corresponds precisely each case MSL-1, suggesting two proteins function together associate with X. Consistent this hypothesis, we isolated EMS-induced loss msl-1 and msl-2 alleles screen suppressors toxic effects expression also used site-directed mutagenesis determine importance RING finger domain second cysteine-rich motif. The mutations, including those conserved zinc coordinating cysteines, confirm essential function, while less stringent requirement an intact