A bioinformatics screen reveals Hox and chromatin remodeling factors at the Drosophila histone locus.

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Lauren J Hodkinson, Emory University; Connor Smith, Emory University; Heather Comstra, Emory University; Skye H Albanese, Emory University; Bukola A Ajani, Emory University; Kawsar Arsalan, Emory University; Alvero Perez Daisson, Emory University; Katherine B Forrest, Emory University; Elijah H Fox, Emory University; Matthew R Guerette, Emory University; Samia Khan, Emory University; Madeleine P Koenig, Emory University; Shivani Lam, Emory University; Ava S Lewandowski, Emory University; Lauren J Mahoney, Emory University; Nasserallah Manai, Emory University; JonCarlo Miglay, Emory University; Blake A Miller, Emory University; Olivia Milloway, Emory University; Vu D Ngo, Emory University; Nicole F Oey, Emory University; Tanya A Punjani, Emory University; HaoMin SiMa, Emory University; Hollis Zeng, Emory University; Casey A Schmidt, Emory University; Leila Rieder, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2023-01-06
• Publisher: bioRxiv
• Publication Version: Preprint (Prior to Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2023.01.06.523008
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: bioRxiv
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by T32GM00008490 and F31HD105452 to LJH, K12GM00068 to CAS and HSC; F32GM140778 to CAS; and R00HD092625 and R35GM142724 to LER.

Abstract

Cells orchestrate histone biogenesis with strict temporal and quantitative control. To efficiently regulate histone biogenesis, the repetitive Drosophila melanogaster replication-dependent histone genes are arrayed and clustered at a single locus. Regulatory factors concentrate in a nuclear body known as the histone locus body (HLB), which forms around the locus. Historically, HLB factors are largely discovered by chance, and few are known to interact directly with DNA. It is therefore unclear how the histone genes are specifically targeted for unique and coordinated regulation. To expand the list of known HLB factors, we performed a candidate-based screen by mapping 30 publicly available ChIP datasets and 27 factors to the Drosophila histone gene array. We identified novel transcription factor candidates, including the Drosophila Hox proteins Ultrabithorax, Abdominal-A and Abdominal-B, suggesting a new pathway for these factors in influencing body plan morphogenesis. Additionally, we identified six other transcription factors that target the histone gene array: JIL-1, Hr78, the long isoform of fs(1)h as well as the generalized transcription factors TAF-1, TFIIB, and TFIIF. Our foundational screen provides several candidates for future studies into factors that may influence histone biogenesis. Further, our study emphasizes the powerful reservoir of publicly available datasets, which can be mined as a primary screening technique.