Joachim Marhold ^{1, 2}, Marcin Zbylut ¹, Dirk-Henner Lankenau ^{2, 4}, Mingfa Li ², Daniel Gerlich ³, Esteban
Ballestar ⁵, Bernard M. Mechler ² and Frank Lyko ¹,

¹ Research Group Epigenetics, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280,
     69120 Heidelberg, Germany
² Department of Developmental Genetics, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280,
     69120 Heidelberg, Germany
³ Research Group Intelligent Bioinformatics Systems, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Im Neuenheimer
     Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
⁴ Department of Zoology, University of Heidelberg, Germany
⁵ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Valencia, Spain

E-mail:  f.lyko@dkfz.de

The Drosophila gene dMBD2/3 encodes a protein with significant homologies to the mammalian methyl-DNA
binding proteins MBD2 and MBD3. These proteins are essential components of chromatin complexes involved in epigenetic gene regulation. Because the available in vitro data on dMBD2/3 are conflicting we have started an in vivo characterization of dMBD2/3. We detected expression of two isoforms specifically during embryonic development. Staining of whole embryos combined with high-resolution confocal microscopy revealed a highly regulated spatial distribution. During the syncytial blastoderm stage, dMBD2/3 formed speckles that localized to the cytoplasm. Shortly after, during the cellular blastoderm stage, the protein entered the nucleus and formed bright foci that associated with DNA. This rapid transition coincided with the activation of the embryonic genome. A similar observation was made during activation of the spermatocyte genome as dMBD2/3 formed distinct foci associated with the activated Y chromosome. Our results indicate that dMBD2/3 forms specialized nuclear compartments to keep certain genes epigenetically silenced during genome activation.

1. Frenster JH, "Activation of DNA Transcription within Repressed Chromatin", 14th John Innes Symposium, September 5-8, 2001.

2. Frenster JH, "Ultrastructural Probes of Active DNA Sites, and the RNA Activators of DNA", AACR 93rd Meeting, San Francisco, CA, April 6-10, 2002.