In Silico Analysis of Gene Expression Network Components Underlying Pigmentation Phenotypes in the Python Identified Evolutionarily Conserved Clusters of Transcription Factor Binding Sites

Figure 12

OA1, MITF, and PMEL upstream regions and associated candidate enhancer modules. (a) The upstream region for ocular albinism type 1 (OC1) contains a cluster of transcription factor binding sites beginning at position 150 and spanning to position 400 which include recognition sites for POU3F2, USF-1, FOX3D, and LEF-1. A second cluster of binding sites occurs between position 550 and position 750 which binds USF-1, FOX3D, and POU3F2. The third cluster of transcription factor binding sites begins at position 1350 and ends at position 1500 and recognizes transcription factors USF-1, MITF, and LEF-1. (b) The upstream region for microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) has a cluster of transcription factor binding sites beginning at position 375 and ending at position 575. The sites recognized within this first cluster include POU3F2, FOXD3, MITF, CREB, and LEF-1. A second cluster of binding sites starts at position 1050 and ends at position 1250 with recognition sites for POU3F2, FOX3D, and LEF-1. The third cluster of binding sites begins at position 1300 and extends to position 1500 which recognizes transcription factors FOXD3, POU3F2, USF-1, and LEF-1. (c) The upstream region for premelanosome protein (PMEL) contains a cluster of transcription factor binding sites between position 125 and position 325 that include sites for USF-1, FOX3D, and LEF-1. A second cluster of binding sites begins at position 890 and extends to position 1090 with recognition sites for LEF-1, POU3F2, and USF-1. The third cluster of transcription factor binding sites begins at position 1225 and ends at position 1425 and contains binding sites for FOXD3, USF-1, and MITF.

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