Polycomb Group Proteins in Drosophila melanogaster
TL;DR
This review summarizes the composition and functions of five major PcG complexes in Drosophila, describing both classical mechanisms of gene repression and recently discovered non-canonical regulatory modes.
Abstract
Simple Summary During development, cells must preserve their specific identities while continuously dividing and responding to environmental changes. This stability is maintained by epigenetic regulation, a system that controls gene activity without changing DNA sequences. Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are essential epigenetic regulators that form specialized protein complexes to maintain the silencing of key developmental genes and ensure stable cell identity. This review summarizes the composition and functions of five major PcG complexes in Drosophila, describing both classical mechanisms of gene repression and recently discovered non-canonical regulatory modes. We also discuss how PcG proteins regulate biological processes throughout the Drosophila life cycle, including embryonic development, larval growth, metamorphosis, adult reproduction, ageing and environmental adaptation. Research on PcG proteins in Drosophila has established fundamental concepts in epigenetics and continues to provide valuable insights into human disease mechanisms and environmentally friendly approaches for insect pest control.