A dual role for the dREAM/MMB complex in the regulation of differentiation-specific E2F/RB target genes.

E2F and RB proteins regulate the expression of genes involved in cell cycle progression, apoptosis, differentiation, and development. Recent studies indicate that they function as part of an evolutionarily conserved multiprotein complex termed dREAM/DREAM/LINC. Here we characterize the role of the Drosophila complex, dREAM, in the regulation of differentiation-specific E2F target genes in actively proliferating cells.

Drosophila RB proteins repress differentiation-specific genes via two different mechanisms.

The RB and E2F proteins play important roles in the regulation of cell division, cell death, and development by controlling the expression of genes involved in these processes. The mechanisms of repression by the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) have been extensively studied at cell cycle-regulated promoters. However, little is known about developmentally regulated E2F/RB genes.