Insulators can disrupt weak transcription derived from the white gene enhancer in Drosophila transgenic lines

Abstract

Increasing evidence suggests that noncoding RNA transcribed from the enhancers play an important role in the regulation of gene transcription. Insulators are the regulatory elements that limit the activity of enhancers and form independent transcriptional domains. Using a transgenic lines, we show that the Fab-7 insulator of the bithorax complex and the MDG4 (gypsy) insulator are able to disrupt weak transcription derived from the enhancer regulating the white gene expression in the eyes. The ability of insulators to disrupt weak transcription may play a role in the enhancer-blocking activity.