- Polycomb-group proteins
Polycomb-group proteins are a family of proteins first discovered in fruit flies that can remodel
chromatin such thattranscription factors cannot bind topromoter sequences inDNA . Polycomb group proteins play a role in silencingHOX genes through modulation of chromatin structure.cite book |chapterurl=http://www.horizonpress.com/rnareg|author= Portoso M and Cavalli G|year=2008|chapter=The Role of RNAi and Noncoding RNAs in Polycomb Mediated Control of Gene Expression and Genomic Programming|title=RNA and the Regulation of Gene Expression: A Hidden Layer of Complexity|publisher=Caister Academic Press|id= [http://www.horizonpress.com/rnareg ISBN 978-1-904455-25-7] ]In insects
In
Drosophila , the Trithorax-group (trxG) and Polycomb-group (PcG) proteins act antagonistically and interact with chromosomal elements, termedCellular Memory Modules (CMMs). Trithorax-group (trxG) proteins maintain the active state of gene expression while the Polycomb-group (PcG) proteins counteract this activation with a repressive function that is stable over many cell generations and can only be overcome by germline differentiation processes.In mammals
In humans Polycomb Group gene expression is important in many aspects of development. Although pathogenic mutations in polycomb group genes have not been identified, abnormal levels of PcG proteins correlate with the severity and invasiveness of several cancer types.Polycomb Gene complexes or PcG silencing involves at least three kinds of multiprotein complex
PRC1 ,PRC2 andPhoRC which work together to carry out the effect. The mammalian PRC1 core complexes are very similar to Drosophila.References
* [http://www.sdbonline.org/fly/aignfam/polycomb.htm Chromatin organization and the Polycomb and Trithorax groups] in The Interactive Fly
* Polycomb silencing mechanisms and the management of genomic programmes - Y. B. Schwartz, V. Pirrotta (Jan 2007); Nat. Rev. Genet. 8(1):9 (PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&list_uids=17173055&cmd=Retrieve 17173055] )
* [http://www.evol.nw.ru/labs/lab38/spirov/hox_pro/pc.htm Drosophila Genes in Development: Polycomb-group] in the Homeobox Genes DataBase
* [http://www.humpath.com/article.php3?id_article=773 polycomb group proteins] on humpath.com
External links
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