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FlySox |
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FlySox |
We are a part of Michael Ashburners laboratory and are interested in the structure and function of Sox-domain genes in Drosophila. This site contains information on the Drosophila Sox genes identified to date, both by us and others, as well as supplementary data on the Sox papers we have published
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Department of Genetics |
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University of Cambridge |
Phone 01223 33970 (lab) |
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Downing Street |
01223 33967 (office) |
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Cambridge |
Fax 01223 333992 |
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CB2 3EH UK |
The group
Steve
Russell (Senior
research associate) Samantha
Loh (Graduate
Student) Alex
Whitworth (Graduate
Student) Paul
Overton (Graduate
Student) Carol
McKimmie (Ressearch
Assistant) Russell, S. et al (1996)
Development 122:3669-3676. Sanchez Soriano, N. and S.
Russell (1998) Development 125: 3989-3996. Sanchez Soriano, N. and S.
Russell (2000) Dev Biol (In Press). Loh, S.Y.H. and Russell, S.
(2000) Mech Dev (In Press). Russell, S. (2000) Mol Gen Genet
(In Press). Natalia Sanchez Soriano
(University of Mainz)
What are SOX domain genes exactly ?
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Sox genes encode proteins with HMG DNA- binding domains. They can bend DNA dramatically upon binding. |
Sox domain genes encode proteins related to the mammalian testis determining factor, SRY, and are part of a larger family of transcription factors with DNA binding domains related to the general chromatin protein HMG1. The HMG-domain has interesting properties; it binds in the minor groove and induces a large bend in the DNA helix, prompting the suggestion that these proteins may have a chromatin architecture function. Many members of the family, such as HMG1, are abundant chromosomal proteins which bind DNA with little or no sequence specificity Others, such as the SOX's and the mammalian lymphocyte transcription factor LEF1, have restricted tissue specificity and exhibit a moderate degree of sequence specificity. Very little is known about the functional requirements for SOX domain genes in vivo so we have been studying these genes in flies to try and pin down their role. We have cloned several SOX genes from Drosophila and a few others have been identified by other labs or the genome sequencing project. The focus of the lab is to study and understand the function of these proteins. This site includes descriptions of fly Sox genes and data on the genes we have been studying. The table below indicates the best studied mammalian relative of each of the fly Sox's we know about.
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