Role of Mod(mdg4)-67.2 Protein in Interactions between Su(Hw)-Dependent Complexes and Their Recruitment to Chromatin

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Larisa S. Melnikova^1,a*, Varvara V. Molodina¹, Pavel G. Georgiev¹, and Anton K. Golovnin¹

¹Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia

Received September 25, 2023; Revised October 23, 2023; Accepted October 24, 2023

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Su(Hw) belongs to the class of proteins that organize chromosome architecture, determine promoter activity, and participate in formation of the boundaries/insulators between the regulatory domains. This protein contains a cluster of 12 zinc fingers of the C2H2 type, some of which are responsible for binding to the consensus site. The Su(Hw) protein forms complex with the Mod(mdg4)-67.2 and the CP190 proteins, where the last one binds to all known Drosophila insulators. To further study functioning of the Su(Hw)-dependent complexes, we used the previously described su(Hw)^E8 mutation with inactive seventh zinc finger, which produces mutant protein that cannot bind to the consensus site. The present work shows that the Su(Hw)^E8 protein continues to directly interact with the CP190 and Mod(mdg4)-67.2 proteins. Through interaction with Mod(mdg4)-67.2, the Su(Hw)^E8 protein can be recruited into the Su(Hw)-dependent complexes formed on chromatin and enhance their insulator activity. Our results demonstrate that the Su(Hw) dependent complexes without bound DNA can be recruited to the Su(Hw) binding sites through the specific protein–protein interactions that are stabilized by Mod(mdg4)-67.2.

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KEY WORDS: transcription regulation, Su(Hw), Mod(mdg4), protein–protein interactions, chromatin insulators

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297924040035

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