BACKGROUND: Developmental abnormalities observed in Cornelia de Lange syndrome have been genetically linked to mutations in the cohesin machinery. These and other recent experimental findings have led to the suggestion that cohesin, in addition to its canonical function of mediating sister chromatid cohesion, might also be involved in regulating gene expression. RESULTS: We report that cleavage of cohesin's kleisin subunit in postmitotic Drosophila salivary glands induces major changes in the transcript levels of many genes. Kinetic analyses of changes in transcript levels upon cohesin cleavage reveal that a subset of genes responds to cohesin cleavage within a few hours. In addition, cohesin binds to most of these loci, suggesting that cohesin is directly regulating their expression. Among these genes are several that are regulated by the steroid hormone ecdysone. Cytological visualization of transcription at selected ecdysone-responsive genes reveals that puffing at Eip74EF ceases within an hour or two of cohesin cleavage, long before any decline in ecdysone receptor could be detected at this locus. CONCLUSION: We conclude that cohesin regulates expression of a distinct set of genes, including those mediating the ecdysone response.
BACKGROUND: Developmental abnormalities observed in Cornelia de Lange syndrome have been genetically linked to mutations in the cohesin machinery. These and other recent experimental findings have led to the suggestion that cohesin, in addition to its canonical function of mediating sister chromatid cohesion, might also be involved in regulating gene expression. RESULTS: We report that cleavage of cohesin's kleisin subunit in postmitotic Drosophila salivary glands induces major changes in the transcript levels of many genes. Kinetic analyses of changes in transcript levels upon cohesin cleavage reveal that a subset of genes responds to cohesin cleavage within a few hours. In addition, cohesin binds to most of these loci, suggesting that cohesin is directly regulating their expression. Among these genes are several that are regulated by the steroid hormone ecdysone. Cytological visualization of transcription at selected ecdysone-responsive genes reveals that puffing at Eip74EF ceases within an hour or two of cohesin cleavage, long before any decline in ecdysone receptor could be detected at this locus. CONCLUSION: We conclude that cohesin regulates expression of a distinct set of genes, including those mediating the ecdysone response.
Authors: Julia A Horsfield; Sasha H Anagnostou; Jimmy Kuang-Hsien Hu; Kitty Hsiao Yu Cho; Robert Geisler; Graham Lieschke; Kathryn E Crosier; Philip S Crosier Journal: Development Date: 2007-06-13 Impact factor: 6.868
Authors: Cheri A Schaaf; Ziva Misulovin; Gurmukh Sahota; Akbar M Siddiqui; Yuri B Schwartz; Tatyana G Kahn; Vincenzo Pirrotta; Maria Gause; Dale Dorsett Journal: PLoS One Date: 2009-07-09 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Anna Gimigliano; Linda Mannini; Laura Bianchi; Michele Puglia; Matthew A Deardorff; Stefania Menga; Ian D Krantz; Antonio Musio; Luca Bini Journal: J Proteome Res Date: 2012-11-05 Impact factor: 4.466