The transcriptional repressor dMnt is a regulator of growth in Drosophila melanogaster

Lenora W.M. Loo, Julie Secombe, John T. Little, Leni Sue Carlos, Cynthia Yost, Pei Feng Cheng, Erin M. Flynn, Bruce A. Edgar, Robert N. Eisenman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Myc-Max-Mad/Mnt network of transcription factors has been implicated in oncogenesis and the regulation of proliferation in vertebrate cells. The identification of Myc and Max homologs in Drosophila melanogaster has demonstrated a critical role for dMyc in cell growth control. In this report, we identify and characterize the third member of this network, dMnt, the sole fly homolog of the mammalian Mnt and Mad family of transcriptional repressors. dMnt possesses two regions characteristic of Mad and Mnt proteins: a basic helix-loop-helix-zipper domain, through which it dimerizes with dMax to form a sequence-specific DNA binding complex, and a Sin-interacting domain, which mediates interaction with the dSin3 corepressor. Using the upstream activation sequence/GAL4 system, we show that expression of dMnt results in an inhibition of cellular growth and proliferation. Furthermore, we have generated a dMnt null allele, which results in flies with larger cells, increased weight, and decreased life span compared to wild-type flies. Our results demonstrate that dMnt is a transcriptional repressor that regulates D. melanogaster body size.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)7078-7091
Number of pages14
JournalMolecular and cellular biology
Volume25
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2005
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The transcriptional repressor dMnt is a regulator of growth in Drosophila melanogaster'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this