Large‐scale analysis of Drosophila core promoter function using synthetic promoters

Abstract: The core promoter plays a central role in setting metazoan gene expression levels, but how exactly it “computes” expression remains poorly understood. To dissect its function, we carried out a comprehensive structure–function analysis in Drosophila. First, we performed a genome‐wide bioinformatic analysis, providing an improved picture of the sequence motifs architecture. We then measured synthetic promoters’ activities of ~3,000 mutational variants with and without an external stimulus (hormonal activation), at large scale and with high accuracy using robotics and a dual luciferase reporter assay. We observed a strong impact on activity of the different types of mutations, including knockout of individual sequence motifs and motif combinations, variations of motif strength, nucleosome positioning, and flanking sequences. A linear combination of the individual motif features largely accounts for the combinatorial effects on core promoter activity. These findings shed new light on the quantitative assessment of gene expression in metazoans.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Large‐scale analysis of Drosophila core promoter function using synthetic promoters ; volume:18 ; number:2 ; year:2022 ; extent:26 ; Molecular systems biology ; 18, Heft 2 (2022) (gesamt 26)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Qi, Zhan ; Jung, Christophe ; Bandilla, Peter ; Ludwig, Claudia ; Heron, Mark ; Sophie Kiesel, Anja ; Museridze, Mariam ; Philippou‐Massier, Julia ; Nikolov, Miroslav ; Renna Max Schnepf, Alessio ; Unnerstall, Ulrich ; Ceolin, Stefano ; Mühlig, Bettina ; Gompel, Nicolas ; Söding, Johannes ; Gaul, Ulrike

Further information

• DOI: 10.15252/msb.20209816
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2022021414081710459792
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:24 AM CEST