Polycomb and Trithorax Group Genes in .

Polycomb group (PcG) and Trithorax group (TrxG) genes encode important regulators of development and differentiation in metazoans. These two groups of genes were discovered in by their opposing effects on homeotic gene (Hox) expression. PcG genes collectively behave as genetic repressors of Hox genes, while the TrxG genes are necessary for HOX gene expression or function.

A Simplified Strategy for Introducing Genetic Variants into Compound Autosome Stocks.

stocks bearing compound chromosomes, single molecules of DNA that carry the genomic complement of two chromosomes, are useful tools for studying meiosis and mitosis. However, these stocks cannot easily be crossed to stocks with regular chromosomes, due to the lethality of the resulting whole-chromosome aneuploidy. This prevents the examination of interesting genetic variants in a compound chromosome background.

TnaA, an SP-RING protein, interacts with Osa, a subunit of the chromatin remodeling complex BRAHMA and with the SUMOylation pathway in Drosophila melanogaster.

Tonalli A (TnaA) is a Drosophila melanogaster protein with an XSPRING domain. The XSPRING domain harbors an SP-RING zinc-finger, which is characteristic of proteins with SUMO E3 ligase activity. TnaA is required for homeotic gene expression and is presumably involved in the SUMOylation pathway.

Anent the genomics of spermatogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster.

An appreciable fraction of the Drosophila melanogaster genome is dedicated to male fertility. One approach to characterizing this subset of the genome is through the study of male-sterile mutations. We studied the relation between vital and male-fertility genes in three large autosomal regions that were saturated for lethal and male-sterile mutations.