The trithorax group gene osa encodes an ARID-domain protein that genetically interacts with the Brahma chromatin-remodeling factor to regulate transcription

The trithorax group gene brahma (brm) encodes the ATPase subunit of a chrom atin-remodeling complex involved in homeotic gene regulation. We report her e that brm interacts with another trithorax group gene, osa, to regulate th e expression of the Antennapedia P2 promoter. Regulation of Antennapedia by BRM and OSA proteins requires sequences 5' to the P2 promoter. Loss of mat ernal osa function causes severe segmentation defects, indicating that the function of osa is not limited to homeotic gene regulation. The OSA protein contains an ARID domain, a DNA-binding domain also present in the yeast SW I1 and Drosophila DRI proteins. We propose that the OSA protein may target the BRM complex to Antennapedia and other regulated genes.