Molecular Genetics of Segment Identity

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Hox genes encode a conserved family of homeodomain-containing transcriptional regulators that are critical for many aspects of animal development, in all metazoans. The long-term goal of this project is to understand how these proteins function as transcriptional regulators at a mechanistic level. Three approaches will be used: 1) a structure-function analysis of three Hox proteins, using an in vivo, rescue-based strategy, focusing especially on Hox protein motifs that interact with Hox cofactors in a context-dependent manner, 2) the high-resolution characterization of individual Hox- targeted regulatory elements, and 3) an analysis of the Hox-dependent chromatin architectures in the imaginal discs, the precursors of the adult fly. Together, these studies will provide important insights int how these and other transcriptional regulators carry out their specific functions during animal development.