Transcriptional Regulation by Trithorax-Group Proteins

The trithorax group of genes (trxG) was identified in mutational screens that examined developmental phenotypes and suppression of Polycomb mutant phenotypes. The protein products of these genes are primarily involved in gene activation, although some can also have repressive effects. There is no central function for these proteins. Some move nucleosomes about on the genome in an ATP-dependent manner, some covalently modify histones such as methylating lysine 4 of histone H3, and some directly interact with the transcription machinery or are a part of that machinery. It is interesting to consider why these specific members of large families of functionally related proteins have strong developmental phenotypes. Outline 1 Introduction 2 Connections between trxG proteins and chromatin 3 Connections between trxG proteins and the general transcription machinery 4 Connections between trxG proteins and cohesin 5 Biochemical functions of other trxG proteins 6 Functional interactions between trxG and PcG proteins 7 Noncoding RNAs and the trxG 8 trxG proteins and human disease 9 Conclusion and outlook