Project name: Drosophila melanogaster

Description: Background: Developmental abnormalities observed in Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) 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 post-mitotic 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. Amongst 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 associated with this locus. Conclusions: We conclude that cohesin regulates expression of a distinct set of genes, including those mediating the Ecdysone response.Overall design: RNA Pol II profiling with or without Cohesin complex. This series contains 4 ChIP samples and 4 WCE samples used for normalization of ChIP samples.

Data type: Epigenomics

Sample scope: Multiisolate

Relevance: ModelOrganism

Release date: 2010-09-10

Last updated: 2010-09-08