TheDrosophilatrithorax group genetonalli(tna) interacts genetically with the Brahma remodeling complex and encodes an SP-RING finger protein

Abstract

The trithorax group genes are required for positive regulation of homeotic gene function. The trithorax group gene brahma encodes a SWI2/SNF2 family ATPase that is a catalytic subunit of the Brm chromatin-remodeling complex. We identified the tonalli (tna) gene inDrosophila by genetic interactions with brahma. tnamutations suppress Polycomb phenotypes and tna is required for the proper expressions of the Antennapedia, Ultrabithorax andSex combs reduced homeotic genes. The tna gene encodes at least two proteins, a large isoform (TnaA) and a short isoform (TnaB). The TnaA protein has an SP-RING Zn finger, conserved in proteins from organisms ranging from yeast to human and thought to be involved in the sumoylation of protein substrates. Besides the SP-RING finger, the TnaA protein also has extended homology with other eukaryotic proteins, including human proteins. We show that tna mutations also interact with mutations in additional subunits of the Brm complex, with mutations in subunits of the Mediator complex, and with mutations of the SWI2/SNF2 family ATPase genekismet. We propose that Tna is involved in postranslational modification of transcription complexes.